What does evildoer mean?
An evildoer is a person who commits wicked or morally wrong deeds — one whose actions are regarded not merely as illegal or mistaken, but as genuinely evil. The word is formed straightforwardly from 'evil' plus the agentive suffix '-doer', making its meaning transparent: literally, one who does evil. It belongs chiefly to formal, literary, and moralistic registers, appearing often in religious texts, political speeches, and storytelling where a clear line divides good from bad. Because it labels a person rather than an act, it carries strong condemnation and little neutrality; calling someone an evildoer asserts deliberate wickedness rather than mere error. Related forms include 'evildoing', the noun for the wicked acts themselves. Synonyms such as 'wrongdoer', 'malefactor', and 'miscreant' occupy similar territory, though each differs slightly in tone and formality.
nounA person who commits evil deeds; someone who deliberately does wicked or morally wrong things.
- A person who does evil or commits wicked deeds, especially as viewed from a moral or religious standpoint.
"The tale ends with the evildoers brought to justice and peace restored to the kingdom."
"The prophet warned that evildoers would not go unpunished."
"In the superhero's world, every evildoer eventually meets their match."
Regular plural; the plural form is common when speaking of evildoers collectively, e.g. in moral or judicial contexts.
"Legends tell of heroes who vanquished entire bands of evildoers."
The Bible's most famous question — 'Why do the wicked prosper?' — has a modern cousin: we still reach for 'evildoer' whenever we need a villain with no redeeming backstory.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of evildoer
Evildoer is a transparent English compound of 'evil' and 'doer', formed within English rather than borrowed from another language. 'Evil' descends from Old English 'yfel', of Germanic origin, while 'do' comes from Old English 'dōn'. The compound follows the same pattern as older formations like 'wrongdoer'. It has been used in English since at least the early modern period, with strong associations to biblical language.
Related word forms
How evildoer is actually used
Slightly formal or literary in register, often carrying a moral or religious tone. Common in political rhetoric, fiction, and biblical-style language, but less frequent in everyday speech, where words like 'wrongdoer' or 'criminal' are more typical.
Easily confused with evildoer
Evildoer refers to the person who does evil, while evildoing is the abstract noun for the evil acts themselves.