a grave evil

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a grave evil" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a serious wrongdoing or moral transgression that has significant negative consequences. Example: "The decision to ignore the plight of the refugees was seen by many as a grave evil that society must confront."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But directly killing an innocent person is a grave evil.

The New York Times

Asked about the spiritual consequences of committing suicide, Bishop Lori replied: "Objectively speaking, suicide is a grave evil.

The New York Times

Sexual misconduct, especially toward minors, is "the most heinous betrayal," he wrote, "a grave evil and sin".

The New York Times

For Eliot "our social novels profess to represent the people as they are, and the unreality of their representations is a grave evil".

The Guardian - Books

The church has been careful to underscore that Catholics have unfettered latitude to vote for any candidate so long as the intent of the Catholic voter is not to express approval of a grave evil.

The New York Times

In a papal encyclical, Pope Pius XII put it like this: "It is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organisations can do".

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"No one who thinks using a condom constitutes a grave moral evil can be taken seriously as an expert on the world's problems".

Science Magazine

(Worthwhile Canadian Initiative) The grave evil of unemployment (Econlog) Sympathy for the Dijsselbloem (Dan Davies c/o Pawel Morski) The underground recovery (New Yorker).

The Economist

This is a position that has been broadly and vehemently condemned by Catholic bishops and Catholic conservatives as an outright violation of church teaching – a grave and moral evil.

The New York Times

Racial discrimination in voting is "one of the gravest evils that Congress can seek to redress," Judge David Tatel wrote in a crucial ruling on Friday upholding the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act.

The New York Times

No graver evils are produced that overshadow the evil to be eliminated.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a grave evil", ensure the context clearly establishes the severe and profound nature of the wrongdoing. Provide specific details to illustrate the extent of its negative impact.

Common error

Avoid using "a grave evil" to describe minor inconveniences or disagreements. This phrase carries significant weight and should be reserved for situations involving serious moral transgressions with substantial consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a grave evil" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing actions or situations considered morally wrong and harmful. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a grave evil" denotes a serious and profound wrongdoing, carrying significant moral weight. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's most frequently used in news and formal contexts to condemn actions with severe negative consequences. While alternatives like "a serious transgression" or "a heinous act" exist, it's crucial to reserve "a grave evil" for truly significant moral breaches to avoid diluting its impact. Overusing it in casual contexts diminishes its gravitas, highlighting the importance of thoughtful and precise language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a serious transgression

Changes the adjective to "serious" and the noun to "transgression", focusing on the violation of a moral code.

a profound injustice

Replaces "evil" with "injustice", highlighting the unfairness of the act.

a heinous act

Substitutes "grave evil" with "heinous act", emphasizing the shocking and reprehensible nature of the action.

a deep moral failing

Replaces "evil" with "moral failing", softening the intensity while still conveying a serious ethical lapse.

a major sin

Uses the religious term "sin" to convey a violation of divine law or moral principle.

a terrible wrong

Uses a simpler adjective and noun to convey a serious act of wrongdoing.

a significant moral lapse

Emphasizes the departure from accepted moral standards.

a reprehensible deed

Highlights the blameworthy and deserving of condemnation nature of the act.

a severe moral error

Focuses on the mistake or misjudgment aspect of the action.

an egregious offense

Highlights the shockingly bad and outrageous nature of the offense.

FAQs

How can I use "a grave evil" in a sentence?

You can use "a grave evil" to describe a serious wrongdoing or moral transgression that has significant negative consequences. For example, "The decision to ignore the plight of the refugees was seen by many as "a grave evil" that society must confront."

What are some alternatives to "a grave evil"?

Some alternatives include "a serious transgression", "a profound injustice", or "a heinous act", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What distinguishes "a grave evil" from "a serious mistake"?

"A grave evil" implies a moral or ethical dimension and significant harm, whereas "a serious mistake" simply refers to an error with potentially significant consequences, without necessarily involving moral wrongdoing.

Is "a grave evil" a subjective term?

While the application of the term "a grave evil" can be subjective and depend on individual values and beliefs, it generally refers to actions or situations that are widely considered to be morally reprehensible and harmful. The severity and scope of the negative consequences are key factors in determining whether something qualifies as "a grave evil".