lesser evilism

noun

The strategy or policy of choosing the lesser evil.

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Meanings

nounlesser evilism (uncountable)

alternative lesser-evilism

  1. uncountableThe strategy or policy of choosing the lesser evil.

    Sure I'm reverting to lesser evilism.

    2009, Steve Cohen, Bolshevik Burlesque, page 229
    2 more examples

    Which is to say that when left support can be taken for granted – and lesser evilism can always be mustered to that end – only the right flank needs to be appeased.

    1992, New Politics, volume 4, numbers 1-2, page 5

    Lesser evilism has now become the default position to justify everything from drone strikes, domestic spying, targeted assassinations, torture and proxy wars to full-scale military intervention.

    2014, Colin Mooers, Imperial Subjects: Citizenship in an Age of Crisis and Empire, page 102

Origin

From lesser evil + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lesser evilism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lesser%20evilism

MLA

“lesser evilism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lesser%20evilism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lesser evilism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lesser%20evilism.

Source: lesser evilism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.