evil
harmful; detrimental: evil laws.
characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous: to be fallen on evil days.
due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character: an evil reputation.
marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.: He is known for his evil disposition.
that which is evil; evil quality, intention, or conduct: to choose the lesser of two evils.
the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.
the wicked or immoral part of someone or something: The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.
harm; mischief; misfortune: to wish one evil.
anything causing injury or harm: Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.
a harmful aspect, effect, or consequence: the evils of alcohol.
a disease, as king's evil.
in an evil manner; badly; ill: It went evil with him.
Idioms about evil
the evil one, the devil; Satan.
Origin of evil
1Other words for evil
Opposites for evil
Other words from evil
- e·vil·ly, adverb
- e·vil·ness, noun
- non·e·vil, adjective
- non·e·vil·ly, adverb
- non·e·vil·ness, noun
- quasi-evil, adjective
- qua·si-e·vil·ly, adverb
- un·e·vil, adjective
- un·e·vil·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for evil
/ (ˈiːvəl) /
morally wrong or bad; wicked: an evil ruler
causing harm or injury; harmful: an evil plan
marked or accompanied by misfortune; unlucky: an evil fate
(of temper, disposition, etc) characterized by anger or spite
not in high esteem; infamous: an evil reputation
offensive or unpleasant: an evil smell
slang good; excellent
the quality or an instance of being morally wrong; wickedness: the evils of war
(sometimes capital) a force or power that brings about wickedness or harm: evil is strong in the world
archaic an illness or disease, esp scrofula (the king's evil)
(now usually in combination) in an evil manner; badly: evil-smelling
Origin of evil
1Derived forms of evil
- evilly, adverb
- evilness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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