evil
/ˈiː.vəl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Morally very wrong, cruel, or harmful. It describes actions, people, or ideas that cause great harm or deep suffering.
- He called the attack evil.
- That was an evil thing to do.
- The story has an evil king.
noun
The force, quality, or act of doing great harm or wrongdoing. It can also mean something bad that people want to stop.
- They fought against evil.
- Greed is a great evil.
- The plan was the lesser evil.
Adinary Nuance
Evil is stronger than bad or wrong. It suggests serious harm, cruelty, or moral darkness, not just a mistake or unpleasant behavior. Writers choose evil when they want a very strong moral judgment.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ác
- Spanish
- malvado
- Chinese
- 邪恶
- Japanese
- 悪
- Korean
- 악
Etymology
Old English ēfel meant “bad” or “wicked,” and it is related to old Germanic words with the same sense. The meaning became strongly moral and religious in Middle English.
Common phrases
the lesser evilan evil actpure evilthe forces of evil
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is evil stronger than bad?
- Yes. Evil is much stronger and more serious than bad.
- Can I use evil for a person?
- Yes, but only if you mean they are very cruel or harmful.
- What is the difference between evil and wicked?
- Evil is usually stronger. Wicked can be lighter or more playful in some contexts.
- Is evil common in academic writing?
- Yes, especially when discussing ethics, religion, history, or literature.