fundamentally evil

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fundamentally evil" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is inherently or intrinsically bad in nature or character. Example: "Many believe that the actions taken during the war were fundamentally evil and unjustifiable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"It has tried to spread itself around in a fundamentally evil way," Mr. Shultz said of the Nicarguan Government.

The New York Times

He characterized inventory as "fundamentally evil" and compared Apple to a dairy, in that products should be sold while they were fresh.

Encyclopedia Britannica

More seriously, he said today in Hialeah that President Obama's policy of allowing Cuban-Americans to visit the island and send money back home was a gift to the "fundamentally evil" Castro regime, one that he intends to halt.

The New York Times

Since then, Democrats have moved much further yet to the right, in the fruitless search for a compromise with a Republican Party that sees compromise itself as fundamentally evil.

The Economist

Moser argued that there is nothing fundamentally evil about the system itself, nor is there anything wrong with people wanting to make money— as John Locke said, a central freedom of democracy is the pursuit of money.

Columbia University

The ILO director-general, Guy Ryder, said the study had taken understanding of forced labour and slavery to a new level, and called for leaders to redouble their efforts to eradicate "this fundamentally evil, but hugely profitable practice".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Evil, evil, evil.

TechCrunch

One of the crucial issues of this election is, Which candidate fundamentally gets the evil represented by this man?

The New York Times

The monstrosities of the world are caused by the few people (like Hitler or Idi Amin) who are fundamentally warped and evil.

The New York Times

The Guardians come off as superheroes without real powers, as tortured, ruined, disillusioned beings who are sometimes cynical and despicable; as heroes who take on their role more from selfishness or stoicism than from idealism, in a world that is fundamentally dominated by evil, in which the balance of terror takes the place of metaphysics and redemption.

The New Yorker

Man and nature are, therefore, like the God who is their true being, considered to be fundamentally good, and apparent evil stems from ignorance of the highest identity.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "fundamentally evil", ensure that your writing provides sufficient context to support such a strong claim, avoiding the use of this phrase in overly simplistic or inflammatory ways.

Common error

Avoid using "fundamentally evil" to describe minor annoyances or everyday frustrations. This phrase carries significant weight and should be reserved for truly egregious situations to maintain its impact and avoid trivializing genuine evil.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fundamentally evil" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, describing something as being inherently or intrinsically evil. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes something that is inherently or intrinsically bad in nature or character.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

19%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fundamentally evil" is used to describe something inherently wicked. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct to use it when describing the inherently bad nature or character of something. Analysis of example sentences reveals that it is most frequently encountered in news and media, as well as academic writing. While grammatically sound, it is important to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where the evil is deeply ingrained rather than superficial. Alternatives like "inherently wicked" or "intrinsically malevolent" can provide similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inherently wicked

Emphasizes the innate quality of being evil.

intrinsically malevolent

Highlights the deep-seated malicious nature.

essentially immoral

Focuses on the lack of moral principles at its core.

profoundly wicked

Stresses the depth and extent of the evil.

utterly depraved

Implies a complete corruption and lack of decency.

completely wicked

Emphasizes the entirety of the wickedness.

thoroughly evil

Indicates a pervasive and comprehensive evilness.

at its core evil

Focuses on the foundational evil nature.

constitutionally evil

Suggests evil is part of the very structure or makeup.

in essence evil

Indicates the fundamental nature is evil, regardless of appearances.

FAQs

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

You can use "fundamentally evil" to describe something with an inherently wicked or malicious nature. For example: "Many consider the regime's policies to be "fundamentally evil"."

What are some alternatives to saying "fundamentally evil"?

Alternatives include "inherently wicked", "intrinsically malevolent", or "essentially immoral", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to describe a person as "fundamentally evil"?

While you could describe a person as such, it's often more precise to describe a person's actions or behaviors as evil, rather than making a statement about their inherent nature. Consider alternatives that focus on specific actions or qualities.

What distinguishes "fundamentally evil" from simply "evil"?

"Fundamentally evil" implies that the evil is not superficial or accidental but is deeply ingrained and essential to the nature of something. It suggests an intrinsic, inherent wickedness, beyond just being bad or harmful.