Standard Lemma guide

evildoing

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An evil or wicked act, especially a crime.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the boy was punished for the transgressions of his father

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transgression

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wrongdoing, wrongful conduct, misconduct, actus reus

Narrower terms: abomination, evil, immorality, wickedness, iniquity, villainy, depravity, turpitude, vice, sin, sinning, terrorization, terrorisation, crime, offense, criminal offense, criminal offence, offence, law-breaking, inside job

History

Etymology

From evil + doing.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pahanteko — evil or wicked act
  • Ingrian: pilla — evil or wicked act
  • Japanese: 悪事 (akuji) — evil or wicked act
  • Japanese: 悪行 (akugyō) — evil or wicked act
  • Latin: maleficium — evil or wicked act
  • Russian: злодея́ние (zlodejánije) — evil or wicked act