something unpleasant that must be done in order to achieve a goal or objective
something displeasing that must be accepted just to achieve a desired result
anything bad that has to be carried out or condoned in order to achieve something good
Mike saw his going to work for his father as a necessary evil if he was ever to own his own company someday
Getting a good education is seen by some as a necessary evil to get a chance at a better life.
David’s marriage to Ann is simply a necessary evil.
No matter the lawyer’s strong case of self-defence, the judge just couldn’t see the murder as a necessary evil.
In as much as stealing is a crime, sometimes, people have no other means to survive and this can make it a necessary evil.
There is no origin for this idiom
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definition
Common phrase that has a specific meaning.