evil

UK: /ˈiːv^əl/ US: /ˈivəl/ ,(ē′vəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•vil /ˈivəl/   adj. 

1. morally wrong or bad;
   immoral;
   wicked:
   He led an evil life.
2. harmful;
   injurious:
   evil pranks.

n. 

3. [countable] something evil;
   evil quality, intention, or conduct:
   the lesser of two evils.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

e•vil  (ē′vəl), adj. 

1. morally wrong or bad;
   immoral;
   wicked:
   evil deeds; an evil life.
2. harmful;
   injurious:
   evil laws.
3. characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering;
   unfortunate;
   disastrous:
   to be fallen on evil days.
4. due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character:
   an evil reputation.
5. marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.:
   He is known for his evil disposition.
6. Idioms the evil one, the devil;
   Satan.

n. 

7. that which is evil;
   evil quality, intention, or conduct:
   to choose the lesser of two evils.
8. the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.
9. the wicked or immoral part of someone or something:
   The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.
10. harm;
    mischief;
    misfortune:
    to wish one evil.
11. anything causing injury or harm:
    Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.
12. a harmful aspect, effect, or consequence:
    the evils of alcohol.
13. a disease, as king's evil.

adv. 

14. in an evil manner;
    badly;
    ill:
    It went evil with him.

• bef. 900; Middle English evel, evil, Old English yfel; cognate with Gothic ubils, Old High German ubil, German übel, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch evel

e′vil•ly, adv. 
e′vil•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. sinful, iniquitous, depraved, vicious, corrupt, base, vile, nefarious. See bad¹. 
• 2. pernicious, destructive.
• 7. wickedness, depravity, iniquity, unrighteousness, corruption, baseness.
• 10. disaster, calamity, woe, misery, suffering, sorrow.

Antonyms

• 1. righteous.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

evil / ˈiːv^əl/ adjective

1. morally wrong or bad; wicked: an evil ruler
2. causing harm or injury; harmful: an evil plan
3. marked or accompanied by misfortune; unlucky: an evil fate
4. (of temper, disposition, etc) characterized by anger or spite
5. not in high esteem; infamous: an evil reputation
6. offensive or unpleasant: an evil smell
7. good; excellent

noun

1. the quality or an instance of being morally wrong; wickedness: the evils of war
2. (sometimes capital) a force or power that brings about wickedness or harm: evil is strong in the world
3. an illness or disease, esp scrofula (the king's evil)

adverb

1. (now usually in combination) in an evil manner; badly: evil-smelling

Etymology: Old English yfel, of Germanic origin; compare Old Frisian evel, Old High German ubil evil, Old Irish adbal excessive

ˈevilly adverb

ˈevilness noun