English-French translations for necessary evil

• mal nécessaire
  Nous n'avons nulle envie d'être un mal nécessaire! We have no wish to be a necessary evil!
  Monsieur Topolánek, le mal nécessaire est l'excuse des lâches. Mr Topolánek, necessary evil is a coward's alibi.
  Le fait d'accoucher et d'élever un enfant continue d'être vu comme un mal nécessaire. Childbirth and bringing up a child are still seen as a necessary evil.
• mal pour un bien

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