lesser of two evils

UK/lɛsə(ɹ)‿əv tuː‿iːvəlz/

noun

The least harmful or unpleasant of two undesirable alternatives.

Similar
lesser evil
Opposite
greater of two evils
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounlesser of two evils (uncountable)
  1. idiomaticuncountableThe least harmful or unpleasant of two undesirable alternatives.

    Synonyms: lesser evil · Antonyms: greater of two evils

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe least harmful or unpleasant of two undesirable alternatives.

Similar
lesser evil
Opposite
greater of two evils
Also see
lesser evil

Translations

Arabic أَهْوَنُ الشَّرَّيْنِ
  • أَهْوَنُ الشَّرَّيْنِ (ʔahwanu š-šarrayni)Translations
Chinese Mandarin "to choose the lesser of two evils", 兩害相權取其輕 /两害相权取其轻
  • "to choose the lesser of two evils"Translations
  • 兩害相權取其輕 /两害相权取其轻 (liǎng hài xiāng quán qǔ qí qīng)Translations
Finnish pienempi paha
  • pienempi pahaTranslations
French moindre mal
  • moindre malTranslations
German geringeres Übel
  • geringeres ÜbelTranslations
Hungarian kisebbik rossz
  • kisebbik rosszTranslations
Italian male minore
  • male minoreTranslations
Polish mniejsze zło
  • mniejsze złoTranslations
Romanian răul cel mai mic
  • răul cel mai micTranslations
Russian ме́ньшее из двух зол
  • ме́ньшее из двух зол (ménʹšeje iz dvux zol)Translations
Spanish mal menor
  • mal menorTranslations
Turkish ehvenişer
  • ehvenişerTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

lesser of two evils. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lesser%20of%20two%20evils

MLA

“lesser of two evils.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lesser%20of%20two%20evils. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lesser of two evils,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lesser%20of%20two%20evils.

Source: lesser of two evils on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.