evil

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective 1 (of people) enjoying harming others; wicked and cruel: an evil man * an evil grin / laugh 2 having a harmful effect on people; morally bad: evil deeds * the evil effects of racism 3 connected with the Devil and with what is bad in the world: evil spirits / beings 4 extremely unpleasant: an evil smell IDIOMS the evil hour / day / moment the time when you have to do sth difficult or unpleasant: I'd better go and see the dentist-I can't put off the evil hour any longer. moreatBREWn., GENIUSn. noun (formal) 1 [U] a force that causes wicked or bad things to happen; wicked behaviour: the eternal struggle between good and evil * the forces of evil * You cannot pretend there's no evil in the world. 2 [C,usually pl.] a wicked or harmful thing; the bad effect of sth: the evils of drugs / alcohol * social evils IDIOMS see LESSER, NECESSARY