English-Finnish translations for necessary evil

• välttämätön paha
  Ne saattavat olla välttämätön paha, mutta paha yhtä kaikki. They may be a necessary evil, but they are an evil.
  Vankila on nykyään välttämätön paha. Today, prison is a necessary evil.
  Se on varmasti ennemminkin välttämätön paha. It is surely more of a necessary evil.

Definition of necessary evil

• An unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted, especially because the available alternative courses of action or inaction would be worse

Examples

• Another punishing round of chemo is a necessary evil if Lisa is to have a fighting chance against the cancer.
• My boss is a real piece of work, but my kids make keeping this job a necessary evil.

Related words

• necessary
• unnecessary
• necessary condition
• necessary stool
• necessary and sufficient condition
• necessary and sufficient
• if necessary
• where necessary
• absolutely necessary