evil
evil — adjective
1. Describes a person, plan, or action that is deliberately cruel, harmful, or done
Describes a person, plan, or action that is deliberately cruel, harmful, or done with wrong intentions.
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
The novel shows how ordinary people can be drawn into evil acts during wartime.
Christopher saw his boss had evil intentions when she asked him to lie.
An evil laugh echoed through the empty hall as the heavy doors slammed shut.
- 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
文法句型
evil + noun
be + evil
用法筆記
Frequently used before nouns (attributive position). Can describe both people (an evil king) and abstract things (an evil plan, evil thoughts).
常見錯誤
2. Extremely unpleasant in a way that affects the senses — used especially of stron
Extremely unpleasant in a way that affects the senses — used especially of strong smells, foul tastes, or very harsh weather conditions.
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.
Kofi sipped the evil green liquid and spat it out onto the grass.
There was an evil taste in the tap water after the storm damaged the pipes.
The evil heat in July made work impossible without a fan.
- 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
文法句型
evil + noun (smell/taste/weather)
be + evil
用法筆記
Mainly used informally with sensory nouns: smell, taste, weather, heat, or cold. Does not carry a moral judgement — it describes physical unpleasantness.
常見錯誤
evil — noun
1. A powerful force, quality, or act that causes great harm, suffering, or moral wr
A powerful force, quality, or act that causes great harm, suffering, or moral wrongness — often discussed in religion, philosophy, and stories about right versus wrong.
The old book explores the battle between good and evil in human nature.
set phrase: good and evil
Constanza believes that ignorance and poverty are two of the greatest evils in modern society.
countable: a social evil
The dictator committed terrible evils that the international court is still investigating.
Élise wrote a novel about a town that falls under the influence of evil.
Many religious traditions teach that humans must actively resist evil through good deeds.
- wrongdoing
focuses on actions rather than a cosmic force; more concrete
- wickedness
emphasises the moral quality of being bad; slightly literary
- harm
more general; lacks the moral or religious dimension
文法句型
the force of evil
commit an evil
good and evil
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun (abstract force: the problem of evil), it has no plural. As a countable noun (a particular bad act: the evils of war), plural form is evils.
常見錯誤
evil — adverb
1. In a way that is morally wrong, cruel, or intended to cause harm — usually used
In a way that is morally wrong, cruel, or intended to cause harm — usually used to describe how someone smiles, laughs, or looks at someone.
The villain smiled evilly at the hero as the trap was about to spring.
common pattern: smile evilly / laugh evilly
Jisoo's eyes glittered evilly while she watched her rival struggle with the exam paper.
The cat stared evilly at the puppy that took its spot by the fire.
Vivek laughed evilly when he heard that his clever plan had worked exactly as intended.
- wickedly
very similar in meaning; more common in fairy tales and children's stories
- malevolently
more formal and literary; suggests deep ill will
- kindly
the most direct opposite in manner or expression
- benevolently
formal; opposite of malevolently
文法句型
verb + evilly
用法筆記
Almost always appears after the verb it modifies (post-positive position). Most common with verbs of expression: smiled, laughed, grinned, glared. Less common in everyday speech.