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evil
[ ee-vuhl ]
/ ˈi vəl /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
noun
adverb
in an evil manner; badly; ill: It went evil with him.
OTHER WORDS FOR evil
QUIZ
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Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Idioms about evil
the evil one, the devil; Satan.
Origin of evil
before 900; Middle English evel, evil,Old English yfel; cognate with Gothic ubils,Old High German ubil,German übel,Old Frisian, Middle Dutch evel
OTHER WORDS FROM evil
Words nearby evil
evidence, evident, evidential, evidentiary, evidently, evil, evildoer, evil eye, evil-minded, Evil One, evil twin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say evil?
A person or thing that is evil is morally wrong. How does evil differ from bad, wicked, and ill? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
How to use evil in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for evil
evil
/ (ˈiːvəl) /
adjective
noun
adverb
(now usually in combination) in an evil manner; badlyevil-smelling
Derived forms of evil
evilly, adverbevilness, nounWord Origin for evil
Old English yfel, of Germanic origin; compare Old Frisian evel, Old High German ubil evil, Old Irish adbal excessive
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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