evil

/ˈivəl/

/ˈivəl/

Other forms: evils; evilest; eviler

Evil is the opposite of good. We usually think of villains as evil — wrong, immoral and nasty on many levels — and heroes as good.

This word is often reserved for our most terrible crimes and criminals: Adolf Hitler is usually the face of evil in history, while Voldemort is that face in recent literature. Evil can be less extreme, meaning simply anything that brings harm; we can talk about the evils of alcohol or the evils of power. When both major candidates for President seem lame, people often say they're choosing between the lesser of two evils. Not all evils are equally evil.

Definitions of evil

1. adjective

   morally bad or wrong
   “evil purposes”

   “an evil influence”

   “evil deeds”

   synonyms:

   bad

   having undesirable or negative qualities

   atrocious, flagitious, grievous, monstrous

   shockingly brutal or cruel

   bad

   characterized by wickedness or immorality

   dark, sinister

   stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable

   corruptive, perversive, pestiferous

   tending to corrupt or pervert

   demonic, diabolic, diabolical, fiendish, hellish, infernal, satanic, unholy

   extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell

   despicable, slimy, ugly, unworthy, vile, worthless, wretched

   morally reprehensible

   devilish, diabolic, diabolical, mephistophelean, mephistophelian

   showing the cunning or ingenuity or wickedness typical of a devil

   evil-minded

   having evil thoughts or intentions

   immoral

   deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong

   offensive

   unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses

   wrong

   contrary to conscience or morality or law

   unrighteous

   not righteous

   wicked

   morally bad in principle or practice

   antonyms:

   good

   morally admirable

   good

   having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

   angelic, angelical, beatific, sainted, saintlike, saintly

   marked by utter benignity; resembling or befitting an angel or saint

   goody-goody

   affectedly or smugly good or self-righteous

   redeeming, redemptive, saving

   bringing about salvation or redemption from sin

   white

   benevolent; without malicious intent

   moral

   concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

   right

   in conformance with justice or law or morality

   righteous

   characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice

   virtuous

   morally excellent

   worthy

   having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable
2. adjective

   having or exerting a malignant influence
   synonyms: malefic, malevolent, malign

   maleficent

   harmful or evil in intent or effect
3. adjective

   having the nature of vice
   synonyms: vicious

   wicked

   morally bad in principle or practice
4. noun

   morally objectionable behavior
   synonyms: immorality, iniquity, wickedness

   types:

   devilry, deviltry

   wicked and cruel behavior

   foul play

   unfair or dishonest behavior (especially involving violence)

   irreverence, violation

   a disrespectful act

   sexual immorality

   the evil ascribed to sexual acts that violate social conventions

   blasphemy, desecration, profanation, sacrilege

   blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character

   type of:

   evildoing, transgression

   the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle
5. noun

   the quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice
   “attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world”

   synonyms: evilness

   antonyms:

   good

   moral excellence or admirableness

   types:

   malevolence, malevolency, malice

   the quality of threatening evil

   malignance, malignancy, malignity

   the quality of being disposed to evil; intense ill will

   balefulness, maleficence, mischief

   the quality or nature of being harmful or evil

   worst

   the greatest damage or wickedness of which one is capable

   nefariousness, ugliness, vileness, wickedness

   the quality of being wicked

   reprehensibility

   being reprehensible; worthy of and deserving reprehension or reproof

   villainousness, villainy

   the quality of evil by virtue of villainous behavior

   perverseness, perversity

   deliberately deviating from what is good

   error, wrongdoing

   departure from what is ethically acceptable

   frailty, vice

   moral weakness

   bitchiness, cattiness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness

   malevolence by virtue of being malicious or spiteful or nasty

   cruelness, cruelty, harshness

   the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance

   beastliness, meanness

   the quality of being deliberately mean

   filthiness

   moral corruption or pollution

   enormity

   the quality of extreme wickedness

   type of:

   immorality

   the quality of not being in accord with standards of right or good conduct
6. noun

   that which causes harm or destruction or misfortune
   “the evil that men do lives after them”

   types:

   Four Horsemen

   (New Testament) the four evils that will come at the end of the world: conquest rides a white horse; war a red horse; famine a black horse; plague a pale horse

   type of:

   bad, badness

   that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency