ENGLISH
REFERENCE

necessary evil

idiom
Meaning

An unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted, especially because the available alternative courses of action or inaction would be worse.


Examples
SIMPLE

Paying taxes is a necessary evil for everyone.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager explained that the budget cuts were a necessary evil to keep the company running.

COMPLEX

While many view the strict new regulations as a necessary evil, they remain essential for maintaining safety in the industry.

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    evil twin

    A duplicate or counterpart that acts in a contrary, nefarious, or insidious manner.

© 2026 English Reference