evil
Usage
What are other ways to say evil?
Evil applies to that which violates or leads to the violation of moral law: evil practices. Ill now appears mainly in certain fixed expressions, with a milder implication than that in evil: ill will; ill-natured. Wicked implies willful and determined doing of what is very wrong: a wicked plan. Bad is the broadest and simplest term: a bad man; bad habits.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But it’s easier than ever to argue that some ultra-wealthy people are strange, selfish, and even evil.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026
"Slavery was an evil in which people from every continent and region participated," she wrote on X.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
To keep customers coming, his pub holds ancient wassailing rituals, where hundreds of patrons fire shotguns and throw stones into orchards to ward off evil spirits.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
In much the way he finessed a truth about art facing evil in “Poetry,” the camera here is both predatory and a tool for catharsis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Hugging the knight's knees, he said, "I embrace the knees of the most famous of all knights, Don Quixote de la Mancha, fighter of evil and savior of the unfortunate."
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
But he was outperformed citywide, leaving Palisades voters with a choice some liken to picking the lesser of two evils: Mayor Karen Bass or Councilmember Nithya Raman.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
And coming from the field of disinformation in particular, A.I. is a Pandora’s box of yet-to-be-imagined evils.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
A wary Tinseltown reluctantly lined up behind Netflix as the lesser of two evils, only to watch Paramount keep raising its bid until the streamer walked away in February.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
He notes that “complaints about the evils of consumerism have long been a staple among intellectuals, but I see evil only in its excesses.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
True, my continued existence could make her life miserable, but misery is the lesser of two evils.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Vocabulary lists containing evil
Bush's Address on 9/11
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Frankenstein" and "How Frankenstein Began"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Flying Machine" by Ray Bradbury
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a word