From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe lesser of two evilsthe lesser of two evils (also the lesser evil)CHOOSE the less unpleasant or harmful of two unpleasant choices → lesser
Examples from the Corpus
the lesser of two evils• Mansfield saw the difficulty in reconciling the two principles, but thought that certainty was the lesser of two evils.• So people go to the polls convinced their only choice is the lesser of two evils.• They regarded the ditching of a widely respected Chancellor, in somewhat undignified circumstances, as the lesser of two evils.• While not particularly welcome, the black knight is considered the lesser of two evils.• At least they chose the lesser of two evils, but even so Tank managed to create havoc. 