evil

evil — adjective

1. Describes a person, plan, or action that is deliberately cruel, harmful, or done

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Describes a person, plan, or action that is deliberately cruel, harmful, or done with wrong intentions.

Example

The villagers believed the old woman had evil powers that caused the crops to fail.

collocation: evil powers / evil spirit

Mayumi refused to follow the evil plan to cheat elderly customers out of their savings.

collocation: evil plan

Common collocations
  • evil spirit
  • evil plan
  • evil intentions
  • evil laugh
  • evil deeds
  • evil thoughts
Synonyms
  • wicked

    very similar, often used in fairy tales or religious contexts; slightly more dramatic

  • malevolent

    more formal and literary; emphasises wanting to cause harm

  • sinister

    suggests something threatening or disturbing rather than openly cruel

  • vicious

    focuses on physical cruelty or violent behaviour

Antonyms
  • good

    the most common opposite in moral contexts

  • virtuous

    formal; having high moral standards

Grammar Patterns

evil + noun

be + evil

Usage Note

Frequently used before nouns (attributive position). Can describe both people (an evil king) and abstract things (an evil plan, evil thoughts).

Common Mistakes

The restaurant had evil service.
The restaurant had terrible service.
'evil' implies deliberate cruelty or moral wrongness, not just low quality.

2. Extremely unpleasant in a way that affects the senses — used especially of stron

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Extremely unpleasant in a way that affects the senses — used especially of strong smells, foul tastes, or very harsh weather conditions.

Example

An evil smell rose from the drain behind the restaurant kitchen.

collocation: evil smell / evil stench

The weather turned evil just as the hikers reached the mountain pass.

Common collocations
  • evil smell
  • evil taste
  • evil weather
  • evil heat
  • evil cold
Synonyms
  • horrible

    more general and less intense; suitable for a wider range of contexts

  • foul

    commonly used for smells and tastes; slightly more formal

  • disgusting

    focuses on the feeling of strong dislike or revulsion

Antonyms
  • pleasant

    general opposite for sensory experiences

  • mild

    used for weather or tastes that are not strong or harsh

Grammar Patterns

evil + noun (smell/taste/weather)

be + evil

Usage Note

Mainly used informally with sensory nouns: smell, taste, weather, heat, or cold. Does not carry a moral judgement — it describes physical unpleasantness.

Common Mistakes

The teacher gave us an evil exam.
The teacher gave us a horrible exam.
'evil' for weather, smells, and tastes does not extend to events or situations.
Idioms

the evil hour/day

idiom

The moment when you must face an unpleasant or difficult task.

Mia finally went to the dentist and faced the evil hour.

Why do you keep putting off the evil day of paying taxes?

somebody’s good/evil genius

idiom

A person or spirit that strongly influences you for good or bad.

His older brother was the evil genius behind the prank.

Sara considered her mentor a good genius who guided her career.

a witch’s/an evil brew

idiom

An unpleasant drink made by mixing different things.

The punch at the party tasted like a witch's brew.

Grandpa called my herbal tea an evil brew and refused to drink it.

evil — noun

evil — adverb

Word family

  • evilly
    adverbB2
  • evilness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four describe morally bad behaviour, but they differ in nuance. 'Wicked' is the closest synonym to 'evil' and is common in fairy tales and religious contexts; it often implies a deliberate choice to do wrong ('the wicked stepmother'). 'Malevolent' is more formal and literary, emphasising a deep, active desire to cause harm ('a malevolent glare'). 'Sinister' suggests something threatening or disturbing rather than openly cruel — it points to hidden danger ('a sinister figure in the shadows'). 'Vicious' focuses on physical cruelty or violence and can describe both people and animals ('a vicious attack'). For everyday use, 'wicked' is the best alternative; choose 'malevolent' for formal writing, 'sinister' for atmospheric description, and 'vicious' when physical harm is involved.

wicked ↗malevolentsinister ↗vicious ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • good and evil
  • the root of all evil
  • necessary evil
  • the problem of evil

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanGermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'evil' comes from Old English 'yfel', which goes back to a prehistoric Germanic root meaning 'having bad qualities' or 'excessive'. That root can be traced further to the Proto-Indo-European root 'up-elo-', meaning 'over' or 'beyond' — suggesting that the original idea was 'going beyond what is acceptable'. Over centuries, the spelling shifted from 'yfel' through Middle English 'evel' to the modern 'evil'.