evil
1evil
adj\ˈē-vəl, British often & US also ˈē-(ˌ)vil\
evil·er or evil·lerevil·est or evil·lest
Definition of EVIL
1
2
a archaic : inferior b : causing discomfort or repulsion : offensive <an evil odor> c : disagreeable <woke late and in an evil temper>
3
a : causing harm : pernicious <the evil institution of slavery> b : marked by misfortune : unlucky
— evil adverb, archaic
— evil·ly \-(l)ē\ adverb
— evil·ness \-nəs\ noun
See Examples of EVIL
- She drank an evil potion.
- The city has fallen on evil days.
- It was an evil omen.
Origin of EVIL
Middle English, from Old English yfel; akin to Old High German ubil evil
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to EVIL
Synonyms: adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked
Related Words: hostile, inimical, unfriendly; contagious, deadly, infectious, infective, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, poisonous, venomous; insidious, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening; hazardous, imperiling (or imperilling), jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound; nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome; destructive, fatal, killer, lethal, malignant, ruinous
Near Antonyms: advantageous, beneficial, useful; favorable, good, propitious; curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome; secure, sound; benignant; noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous
Learn More About EVIL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: evildoer
Previous Word in the Dictionary: evidentness
All Words Near: evil
Previous Word in the Dictionary: evidentness
All Words Near: evil
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up evil? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
