necessary evil en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) An unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted, especially because the available alternative courses of action or inaction would be worse.
Architecturally the stations of the Tonbridge-Hastings line are of great interest. Wadhurst, Robertsbridge and Stonegate are of simple Italinate^([sic]) style, unspoiled by that necessary evil of a platform awning.
1957 August 14, H. P. White, “The Tonbridge-Hastings Line and its Traffic”, in Railway Magazine, page 529:Another punishing round of chemo is a necessary evil if Lisa is to have a fighting chance against the cancer.
My boss is a real piece of work, but my kids make keeping this job a necessary evil.
But today, with more lineside furniture and infrastructure, the potential for problems to arise is greater. The impact of clearing overgrown greenery is a necessary evil that must be tackled - for a variety of reasons.
2025 October 29, Ryan Hall, “Hubble prevents toil and trouble”, in RAIL, number 1047, page 38:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| necessary evils | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
Translations (17)
pl zło konieczne (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · ru необходимое зло (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · pt mal necessário (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · nl noodzakelijk kwaad (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · el αναγκαίο κακό (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · es mal necesario (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · ko 필요악 (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · cmn 必要之惡 /必要之恶 (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · nb nødvendig onde (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · cs nutné zlo (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · da nødvendigt onde (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · fr mal pour un bien (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · de notwendiges Übel (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · bg необходимо зло (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · fi välttämätön paha (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · fr mal nécessaire (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted) · ja 必要悪 (unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted)