an evil seed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an evil seed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used metaphorically to describe a person or idea that is believed to lead to negative or harmful outcomes. Example: "His actions were like an evil seed, planting distrust among the team that would grow into a larger conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Is there an evil seed that children of evil carry?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

From the moment they decided to move to Portland together, he'd known that this evil seed was planted in his heart.

The New Yorker

Forget Tabasco — the exposition will feature artisanal hot sauces like Torchbearer from Pennsylvania, Evil Seed from Florida and PuckerButt from South Carolina.

The New York Times

Even now, the evil seed of what you've done germinates within you".

Vice

This is the evil seed of Dick Cheney's flashlight-under-the-chin brand of politics.

Huffington Post

Say what you will about the overall need for the war, the cost and the mistakes, but all men feel good about snuffing out Saddam and his evil seed.

Huffington Post

The evil seeds of emo and metal were being sewn into the scene, wiping out things like normal-guy-angry-hardcore that the whole genre of music was based on in the first place.

Vice

At 10, she landed a role in the Off-Broadway production "Ruthless," based on the movie "The Bad Seed," an evil role that some mean-spirited critics say she is still playing.

The New York Times

Carved turnip: Get an evil turnip by farming an 'evil turnip seed' (provided that you have a level 42 farming) or purchase one from the Grand Exchange.

WikiHow

"An evil lot, an evil lot.

The New Yorker

Anytime you hear people like Bill Gates and other unnamed politicians and business leaders talk about "better seeds" or "improved seeds," you are hearing them unwittingly promote an evil plot to destroy the planet.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotations carefully. The phrase evokes a strong sense of inherent and inevitable evil.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase in contexts where a simpler, more direct negative descriptor would suffice. "Bad idea" is often clearer than "an evil seed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an evil seed" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject complement, describing the origin of evil, similar to how it is used in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an evil seed" is a noun phrase used to describe something regarded as the origin of evil. While grammatically correct, it is relatively rare and primarily appears in news and media contexts. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is used to express strong condemnation and implies a negative origin with potential for future harm. When using "an evil seed", it's advisable to consider its strong connotations and reserve it for contexts where such intensity is warranted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a malevolent influence

Focuses on the actively harmful impact.

a corrupting element

Emphasizes how something leads to decay or dishonesty.

a root of malice

Emphasizes the origin of ill will and spite.

a wicked beginning

Highlights the immoral start of something.

a source of corruption

Focuses on the corrupting influence rather than inherent evil.

a wellspring of wickedness

Suggests a continuous and abundant source of evil.

a catalyst for destruction

Focuses on the role of triggering widespread damage.

a font of depravity

Suggests an abundant supply of moral corruption.

a breeding ground for sin

Highlights the environment that fosters immoral behavior.

a harbinger of doom

Implies that something bad is coming, acting as a signal.

FAQs

What does "an evil seed" mean?

The phrase "an evil seed" is a metaphor for something that is the origin of evil or bad things, implying that it will grow and spread negativity.

How can I use "an evil seed" in a sentence?

You can use "an evil seed" to describe the beginning of something negative. For example, "His lies were like "an evil seed", that grew into a forest of deceit".

What are some alternatives to "an evil seed"?

Some alternatives to "an evil seed" are "source of corruption", "root of malice", or "malevolent influence".

Is it appropriate to use "an evil seed" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "an evil seed" is a strong and metaphorical phrase. It may be more appropriate for creative or persuasive writing than for strictly formal or academic contexts.