What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mephistophelean
Example
The politician's mephistophelean smile made me suspicious of his true intentions. [mephistophelean: adjective]
Example
The cat had a mephistophelean glint in its eye as it knocked over the vase. [mephistophelean: adjective]
evil
Example
The evil queen plotted to kill Snow White out of jealousy. [evil: noun]
Example
The storm caused widespread destruction and brought about evil consequences. [evil: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Evil is a more common word in everyday language and covers a wider range of contexts than mephistophelean. Evil is used in various genres and media, from news articles to horror movies, while mephistophelean is more commonly found in literature and academic writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mephistophelean and evil?
Both mephistophelean and evil can be used in formal and informal contexts, but mephistophelean may be considered more formal or literary due to its less common usage and origin in German folklore.
