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social evil
noun
- anything detrimental to a society or its citizens, as alcoholism, organized crime, etc.
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Word History and Origins
Origin of social evil1
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Example Sentences
Heck, even the Pope tweeted, “Inequality is the root of social evil.”
With safe sex advocates on the run, Warren and Ssempa trained their sights on another social evil.
First, such an attitude is not a desirable one to adopt when seeking a remedy for a social evil.
The transportation of women has been a great social evil to the colonies.
Mr. Wellcome was for the propagation of Tuberculosis and the direct encouragement of the Social Evil.
All I am concerned about is in arriving at a sense of the enormity of the impulse behind the "social evil."
The second sentence says that no study of the social evil is complete which leaves out the causes of divorce.
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More About Social Evil
What is a social evil?
A social evil is anything that is actively harmful for a community or society, as in To have a peaceful community we must end social evils.
Social evils, also called societal evils, are concepts that are considered harmful to the overall health or happiness of a society. Often, people agree that some or all illegal activities are social evils, such as the sale of illegal drugs, corporate corruption, and domestic terrorism.
Social evils can also be legal actions that are considered morally or ethically wrong by some people or that are abused or taken too far, such as racism, sexism, misinformation, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse.
A social evil is also sometimes called a social ill, implying that the behavior is like a sickness to society.
Example: For decades, organized crime has been one of our town’s most harmful social evils.
Where does social evil come from?
The first records of the term social evil come from around the 1850s. It combines the terms social, meaning “of or relating to human society,” and evil, meaning “harmful or detrimental.”
Very few actions are seen as harmful by all societies. For example, while murder is considered a social evil by many people, some rebellions have considered murder a tool to achieve social good. Prostitution, which has been called the “Great Social Evil” by some people, is legal and considered a helpful part of society in some countries.
Because of this, the idea of what is a social evil and what isn’t is often debated, sometimes angrily and with great force and often about a new phenomenon that is not yet well understood. For example, some people will say that violence in films is a social evil because it leads people to act violently. Other people argue that violence in films has little to no effect on people’s tendency to be violent. Often, there is no one right answer—only opinions.
Did you know ... ?
How is social evil used in real life?
Social evils are normally discussed in political or philosophical conversations, with people having different views on what are and are not social evils.
Inequality is the root of social evil.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 28, 2014
The forces of social evil and inequality are so strong that we need a stronger voice and FORCE in the opposite DIRECTION
— Dr Willy M Mutunga, Chief Justice, Kenya (2011-16) (@WMutunga) October 2, 2017
Awareness in the society about atrocities on women and sense of responsibility can help us get rid of social evil : PM Shri @narendramodi #MahilaParaBJPSarkara
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2018
Try using social evil!
Is social evil used correctly in the following sentence?
“I will fight the social evils that are making our community great.”
More About Social Evil
What is a social evil?
A social evil is anything that is actively harmful for a community or society, as in To have a peaceful community we must end social evils.
Social evils, also called societal evils, are concepts that are considered harmful to the overall health or happiness of a society. Often, people agree that some or all illegal activities are social evils, such as the sale of illegal drugs, corporate corruption, and domestic terrorism.
Social evils can also be legal actions that are considered morally or ethically wrong by some people or that are abused or taken too far, such as racism, sexism, misinformation, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse.
A social evil is also sometimes called a social ill, implying that the behavior is like a sickness to society.
Example: For decades, organized crime has been one of our town’s most harmful social evils.
Where does social evil come from?
The first records of the term social evil come from around the 1850s. It combines the terms social, meaning “of or relating to human society ,” and evil, meaning “harmful or detrimental.”
Very few actions are seen as harmful by all societies. For example, while murder is considered a social evil by many people, some rebellions have considered murder a tool to achieve social good. Prostitution, which has been called the “Great Social Evil” by some people, is legal and considered a helpful part of society in some countries.
Because of this, the idea of what is a social evil and what isn’t is often debated, sometimes angrily and with great force and often about a new phenomenon that is not yet well understood. For example, some people will say that violence in films is a social evil because it leads people to act violently. Other people argue that violence in films has little to no effect on people’s tendency to be violent. Often, there is no one right answer, only opinions.
Did you know … ?
How is social evil used in real life?
Social evils are normally discussed in political or philosophical conversations, with people having different views on what are and are not social evils.
Inequality is the root of social evil.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 28, 2014
The forces of social evil and inequality are so strong that we need a stronger voice and FORCE in the opposite DIRECTION
— Dr Willy M Mutunga, Chief Justice, Kenya (2011-16) (@WMutunga) October 2, 2017
Awareness in the society about atrocities on women and sense of responsibility can help us get rid of social evil : PM Shri @narendramodi #MahilaParaBJPSarkara
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2018
Try using social evil!
Is social evil used correctly in the following sentence?
“I will fight the social evils that are making our community great.”
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