Evildoer

/ˈiːvəlˌduːər/ noun

Definition

A person who does evil or harmful things; someone who commits wicked or immoral acts.

Etymology

Compound word formed from 'evil' (from Old English 'yfel,' related to Germanic roots meaning bad or vile) plus 'doer' (one who does), literally meaning 'one who does evil.' This combines Old English and Germanic elements in a straightforward semantic compound.

Kelly Says

The word 'evildoer' appears frequently in religious and philosophical texts but sounds almost archaic to modern ears—it reflects how different eras have different ways of talking about wrongdoing and morality.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.