Are you searching for advice on how to describe an evil person in a story? We’ve put together the following list of 10 words to inspire your writing!
1. Antagonizing
Definition
Making someone dislike or be opposed to you, usually by inciting anger in them.
Examples
“His antagonizing behavior made her blood boil, which made him torment her all the more.”
“She loved antagonizing anyone she met and as soon as she learned something she could use as ammunition against them it was a relentless assault.”
How it Adds Description
“Antagonizing” helps you to illustrate just how annoying and relentless your evil character is in your story. They will stop at nothing to get people to dislike them and to make their lives a misery, which might make your reader question why they are like this in the first place.
2. Cruel
Definition
Being unkind and causing pain to others intentionally.
Examples
“His cruel actions made the lives of everyone in the house a living hell.”
“The punishments meted out by the warlord were cruel and savage, designed to inflict the most pain possible while leaving the victim alive for as long as they could.”
How it Adds Description
“Cruel” helps you to show a character that not only inflicts pain on others but enjoys it, too. Often, “cruel” people are incredibly inventive in their punishments, which may end up shocking your reader with how far they will go.
3. Depraved
Definition
Morally bad or evil.
Examples
“Years of abandonment had left him depraved and completely insane.”
“His depraved sense of enjoyment of the grisly scene that was taking place in front of them made her sick to her stomach.”
How it Adds Description
If your character is completely against all that is good in the world and any social expectations, consider describing them as “depraved”. This can help to illustrate to your reader just how far removed they are from the rest of the characters in your story and may make them question how exactly they ended up this way.
4. Fiendish
Definition
- Evil and cruel.
- Clever, but usually in a bad way.
Examples
“The fiendish villain cackled with glee as he plotted his next heinous act.”
“Despite his outward charm, the CEO’s fiendish nature was revealed by the cruel and heartless decisions he made to increase his company’s profits.”
How it Adds Description
“Fiendish” can not only help you to be able to illustrate how evil a character is but also show their intelligence at the same time. Someone that is “fiendish” is often scheming and manipulative, leaving your reader guessing what horrible act they have up their sleeves next.
5. Malicious
Definition
Intending to harm or upset others.
Examples
“The school bully spread malicious rumors to try to destroy her reputation and friendships completely.”
“The malicious lord exerted such heavy taxes on his subjects that many ended up either starving or destitute.”
How it Adds Description
If you need to describe an evil person in your story who not only hurts people physically, but emotionally too, try describing them as “malicious”. Usually, people who act maliciously are doing so out of revenge or hurt, so it can add depth to your evil character for your reader.
6. Nefarious
Definition
Conducting evil activities.
Examples
“The detective needed all the help he could get to catch the nefarious criminal.”
“The nefarious intentions of the cult leader became apparent when his followers were instructed to cut off all communication with the outside world and surrender their life savings.”
How it Adds Description
“Nefarious” adds a further layer than just simply calling a character “evil”. Often, “nefarious” people are in positions of authority or power, such as a gang boss, or the head of an organization. This status allows them to get away with more underhanded deeds, and be harder to stop.
7. Scheming
Definition
Making plans, usually in a way that deceives or undermines others.
Examples
“The scheming politician made secret deals with wealthy donors to advance his interests at the expense of his constituents.”
“The sorcerer began scheming to overthrow the king by manipulating the royal court with lies and rumors.”
How it Adds Description
Most evil people have grand plans and ambitions, which usually stand to disadvantage or harm others. Try describing them as “scheming” when you start to show their true intentions, usually unbeknownst to your readers and characters.
8. Unscrupulous
Definition
Behaving dishonestly to get what you want.
Examples
“To get ahead in life, you need to be a bit unscrupulous. Being Mr. Nice Guy will get you nowhere in this job.”
“The unscrupulous merchant sold fake magical potions to unsuspecting customers, knowing full well that they would have no effect other than to line his pockets with gold.”
How it Adds Description
Evil people often rely upon deceit to get ahead, and a way to show this to your reader is to describe them as “unscrupulous”. The word also implies a lack of scruples, which are feelings that prevent people from doing misdeeds, illustrating just how heartless they have become.
9. Vicious
Definition
Showing a willingness to hurt or injure people severely both physically and mentally.
Examples
“Everyone in the office learned to be wary of his vicious temper. If he looked to be in a bad mood it was advised to keep your distance.”
“The vicious nature of the killings revealed a person who was filled with hate towards their victims. It was clear every one of them had suffered greatly.”
How it Adds Description
The word “vicious” not only helps you to be able to show a character who wishes to harm others but also someone who has no limits on how far they will go. Your reader may end up being shocked by the “vicious” acts the evil person in your story commits and wonder who, if anyone, can stop them.
10. Wicked
Definition
Morally wrong or bad.
Examples
“The wicked witch cackled as she cast her spell, cursing the innocent princess to a deep sleep that could only be broken by true love’s kiss.”
“She delighted in thinking up the most wicked and cruel ways in which to torment her victims.”
How it Adds Description
“Wicked” helps you to add an extra layer of meaning rather than simply calling a character “evil”, thanks to its connotations. “Wicked” can often imply cleverness and cunning, helping you to distinguish how your evil character goes about their plots and schemes.