evil

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adjective

ˈē-vəl

British often and US sometimes ˈē-(ˌ)vil

eviler or eviller; evilest or evillest

: morally reprehensible : sinful, wicked

an evil impulse

: arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct

a person of evil reputation

archaic : inferior

: causing discomfort or repulsion : offensive

an evil odor

: disagreeable

woke late and in an evil temper

: causing harm : pernicious

the evil institution of slavery

: marked by misfortune : unlucky

evilly

ˈē-və(l)-lē

British often and US sometimes ˈē-(ˌ)vi(l)-

adverb

evilness

ˈē-vəl-nəs

British often and US sometimes ˈē-(ˌ)vil-

noun

evil

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noun

: the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing

: a cosmic evil force

: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity

evil

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Example Sentences

Adjective She drank an evil potion. The city has fallen on evil days. It was an evil omen. Noun the battle of good versus evil our free will allows us to choose between good and evil

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But remember: Bose–Einstein condensates are not evil.

Thilo Stöferle, Ars Technica, 18 July 2017 John Robert Lindsey made a properly evil Monostatos (a dead ringer for the vampire Nosferatu), accompanied by terrifying dogs rather than slaves.

Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati.com, 16 July 2017 The Nazis and the Holocaust truly show the entire scope of humanity, at its most evil and its most resilient.

The Editors, Smithsonian, 2 May 2017 Pamina has the short bob hairdo of flapper-era star Louise Brooks, the birdcatcher is a Buster Keaton-style Papageno and the evil Monostatos reminds of Nosferatu.

Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati.com, 6 July 2017 The Master's return isn't blockbuster enough for me, even with the good versus evil Superman III undertones in his cheeky exchanges with Missy.

Kelly Fiveash, Ars Technica, 3 July 2017 Well, not evil, really, but more bureaucratic, legalistic b.s.

Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 30 June 2017 The show unites Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones) to battle the Hand, a band of evil mystical ninjas.

Pacific, Pacific San Diego Magazine, 15 June 2017 Here, Goron is summoned by his king to fight evil forces threatening their kingdom.

Redbook, 10 May 2017

Noun

Similar to the first film, Giselle’s journey culminates in an epic ballroom battle between good and evil.

Erica Russell, Glamour, 17 Nov. 2022 But the state lies in all the tongues of good and evil.

Alan Jacobs, Harper’s Magazine , 9 Nov. 2022 Good must fight evil, and at a terrible disadvantage and cost.

Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022 However, main character Hope Mikaelson (Danielle Rose Russell) mainly uses her witch powers to fight evil, and the two most critical supporting characters are witch twins.

Amanda Ostuni, EW.com, 28 June 2022 Along with a new lease on life, Khonsu gifts Marc with god-like powers to fight evil.

Milan Polk, Men's Health, 30 Mar. 2022 The film frames Michael (Tyler Mane and Daeg Faerch) as both victim and perpetrator in a cycle of violent trauma — a product of his environment rather than a natural force of evil.

Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Nov. 2022 For those of you unfortunate enough to have missed it, Sailor Moon and her fellow Sailor-Soldiers defended Earth from the forces of evil on TV between the years of 1992 and 1997.

Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2022 There was shock at the audacity of evil, and gratitude for the heroism and decency that opposed it.

Jon Meacham, Town & Country, 30 Oct. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'evil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.