Phrase guide

root of all evil

noun · 1 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

Something that is perceived to be a root cause of all the world's evil.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • idleness is the root of all evil, lust is the root of all evil

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Genericized in other phrases from (the love of) money is the root of all evil, which see.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: zaad van alle kwaad — Translations
  • Finnish: kaiken pahan alku ja juuri — Translations
  • German: Wurzel allen Übels — Translations
  • German: Ursprung alles Bösen — Translations
  • Hungarian: minden baj(nak)/rossz(nak) gyökere/forrása/kútforrása/oka — Translations
  • Romanian: rădăcina tuturor relelor — Translations