Base vs. Evil — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 17, 2024
"Base" refers to something morally low or ignoble, while "evil" denotes profound immorality and wickedness.
Difference Between Base and Evil
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Base" describes actions or characteristics that are morally low, mean-spirited, or contemptible. It often implies a lack of higher values or noble qualities. For example, base motives might include selfishness or greed. "Evil" refers to a more intense and pervasive form of immorality, involving actions or intentions that are profoundly wicked and harmful. It suggests a deep-rooted malevolence and the deliberate infliction of harm or suffering.
"Base" can be used to describe relatively minor moral failings or dishonorable behaviors, such as lying or cheating. In contrast, "evil" is reserved for actions or individuals who cause significant harm or suffering, often with malicious intent.
The term "base" might be applied to a person's character or actions that are seen as unworthy or degrading, whereas "evil" conveys a sense of absolute moral corruption and malevolence, often associated with criminal or malevolent acts.
"Base" behavior is typically seen as dishonorable or ignoble, reflecting a lack of integrity or virtue. "Evil" behavior, on the other hand, is considered profoundly wicked and malevolent, often invoking a sense of fear or abhorrence.
"Base" can imply a weakness of character or a tendency towards pettiness and meanness. "Evil," in contrast, suggests an active and deliberate intention to do harm or commit acts of great moral turpitude.
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Comparison Chart
Moral Quality
Morally low or ignoble
Profoundly immoral and wicked
Severity
Minor moral failings or dishonorable behavior
Significant harm with malicious intent
Application
Describes petty or mean-spirited actions
Describes deeply malevolent actions
Character Implication
Reflects a lack of higher values or virtues
Suggests absolute moral corruption and malevolence
Connotation
Dishonorable or contemptible
Profoundly wicked and harmful
Compare with Definitions
Base
Morally low or ignoble.
His base motives were evident when he betrayed his friends.
Evil
Profoundly immoral and wicked.
The villain's evil deeds terrorized the town.
Base
Dishonorable or contemptible.
Stealing from the poor is a base act.
Evil
Malevolent or harmful.
Spreading lies with the intent to harm is evil.
Base
Lacking higher values or principles.
His base behavior alienated his colleagues.
Evil
Deeply corrupt or depraved.
The dictator's regime was marked by evil policies.
Base
Mean-spirited or petty.
She made a base comment about her rival.
Evil
Evil, in a general sense, is defined by what it is not—the opposite or absence of good. It can be an extremely broad concept, although in everyday usage it is often more narrowly used to talk about profound wickedness.
Base
Inferior in quality or value.
The base metals in the alloy degraded its strength.
Evil
Morally bad or wrong; wicked
An evil tyrant.
Base
The lowest part or edge of something, especially the part on which it rests or is supported
She sat down at the base of a tree
Evil
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful
The evil effects of a poor diet.
Base
A conceptual structure or entity on which something draws or depends
The town's economic base collapsed
Evil
Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous
Evil omens.
Base
A place used as a centre of operations by the armed forces or others; a headquarters
He headed back to base
Evil
Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous
An evil reputation.
Base
A main or important element or ingredient to which other things are added
Soaps with a vegetable oil base
Evil
Characterized by anger or spite; malicious
An evil temper.
Base
A substance capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt and water, or (more broadly) of accepting or neutralizing hydrogen ions.
Evil
The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
Base
The middle part of a bipolar transistor, separating the emitter from the collector.
Evil
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction
A leader's power to do both good and evil.
Base
The root or stem of a word or a derivative.
Evil
An evil force, power, or personification.
Base
A number used as the basis of a numeration scale.
Evil
Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction
The social evils of poverty and injustice.
Base
Each of the four stations that must be reached in turn to score a run.
Evil
In an evil manner.
Base
Use (something specified) as the foundation or starting point for something
Entitlement will be based on income
The film is based on a novel by Pat Conroy
Evil
Intending to harm; malevolent.
An evil plot to brainwash and even kill innocent people
Base
Situate at a specified place as the centre of operations
A London-based band
The Science Policy Review Unit is based at the University of Sussex
Evil
Morally corrupt.
If something is evil, it is never mandatory.
Do you think that companies that engage in animal testing are evil?
Base
Without moral principles; ignoble
The electorate's baser instincts of greed and selfishness
Evil
Unpleasant, foul (of odour, taste, mood, weather, etc.).
Base
Denoting or befitting a person of low social class.
Evil
Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity; unpropitious; calamitous.
Base
(of coins or other articles) not made of precious metal
The basest coins in the purse were made in the 620s AD
Evil
(obsolete) Having harmful qualities; not good; worthless or deleterious.
An evil beast; an evil plant; an evil crop
Base
The lowest or bottom part
The base of a cliff.
The base of a lamp.
Evil
Undesirable; harmful; bad practice.
Global variables are evil; storing processing context in object member variables allows those objects to be reused in a much more flexible way.
Base
The part of a plant or animal organ that is nearest to its point of attachment.
Evil
Moral badness; wickedness; malevolence; the forces or behaviors that are the opposite or enemy of good.
The evils of society include murder and theft.
Evil lacks spirituality, hence its need for mind control.
Base
The point of attachment of such an organ.
Evil
Something which impairs the happiness of a being or deprives a being of any good; something which causes suffering of any kind to sentient beings; harm; injury; mischief.
Base
A supporting part or layer; a foundation
A skyscraper built on a base of solid rock.
Evil
(obsolete) A malady or disease; especially in combination, as in king's evil, colt evil.
Base
A basic or underlying element; infrastructure
The nation's industrial base.
Evil
(obsolete) wickedly, evilly, iniquitously
Base
The fundamental principle or underlying concept of a system or theory; a basis.
Evil
(obsolete) injuriously, harmfully; in a damaging way.
Base
A fundamental ingredient; a chief constituent
A paint with an oil base.
Evil
(obsolete) badly, poorly; in an insufficient way.
It went evil with him.
Base
The fact, observation, or premise from which a reasoning process is begun.
Evil
Having qualities tending to injury and mischief; having a nature or properties which tend to badness; mischievous; not good; worthless or deleterious; poor; as, an evil beast; and evil plant; an evil crop.
A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit.
Base
(Games) A starting point, safety area, or goal.
Evil
Having or exhibiting bad moral qualities; morally corrupt; wicked; wrong; vicious; as, evil conduct, thoughts, heart, words, and the like.
Ah, what a sign it is of evil life,When death's approach is seen so terrible.
Base
(Baseball) Any one of the four corners of an infield, marked by a bag or plate, that must be touched by a runner before a run can be scored.
Evil
Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity; unpropitious; calamitous; as, evil tidings; evil arrows; evil days.
Because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel.
The owl shrieked at thy birth - an evil sign.
Evil news rides post, while good news baits.
It almost led him to believe in the evil eye.
Base
A center of organization, supply, or activity; a headquarters.
Evil
Anything which impairs the happiness of a being or deprives a being of any good; anything which causes suffering of any kind to sentient beings; injury; mischief; harm; - opposed to good.
Evils which our own misdeeds have wrought.
The evil that men do lives after them.
Base
The portion of a social organization, especially a political party, consisting of the most dedicated or motivated members.
Evil
Moral badness, or the deviation of a moral being from the principles of virtue imposed by conscience, or by the will of the Supreme Being, or by the principles of a lawful human authority; disposition to do wrong; moral offence; wickedness; depravity.
The heart of the sons of men is full of evil.
Base
A fortified center of operations.
Evil
Malady or disease; especially in the phrase king's evil, the scrofula.
He [Edward the Confessor] was the first that touched for the evil.
Base
A supply center for a large force of military personnel.
Evil
In an evil manner; not well; ill; badly; unhappily; injuriously; unkindly.
It went evil with his house.
The Egyptians evil entreated us, and affected us.
Base
A facial cosmetic used to even out the complexion or provide a surface for other makeup; a foundation.
Evil
Morally objectionable behavior
Base
(Architecture) The lowest part of a structure, such as a wall, considered as a separate unit
The base of a column.
Evil
That which causes harm or destruction or misfortune;
The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones
Base
(Heraldry) The lower part of a shield.
Evil
The quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice;
Attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world
Base
(Linguistics) A morpheme or morphemes regarded as a form to which affixes or other bases may be added.
Evil
Morally bad or wrong;
Evil purposes
An evil influence
Evil deeds
Base
The side or face of a geometric figure to which an altitude is or is thought to be drawn.
Evil
Having the nature of vice
Base
The number that is raised to various powers to generate the principal counting units of a number system. The base of the decimal system, for example, is 10.
Evil
Tending to cause great harm
Base
The number raised to the logarithm of a designated number in order to produce that designated number; the number at which a chosen logarithmic scale has the value 1.
Evil
Having or exerting a malignant influence;
Malevolent stars
A malefic force
Base
A line used as a reference for measurement or computations.
Evil
Associated with supernatural wickedness.
The legend spoke of an evil spirit haunting the forest.
Base
Any of a class of compounds whose aqueous solutions are characterized by a bitter taste, a slippery feel, the ability to turn litmus blue, and the ability to react with acids to form salts.
Evil
Causing harm or suffering.
His evil intentions became clear when the plot unfolded.
Base
A substance that yields hydroxide ions when dissolved in water.
Base
A substance that can act as a proton acceptor.
Base
A substance that can donate a pair of electrons to form a covalent bond.
Base
The region in a transistor between the emitter and the collector.
Base
The electrode attached to this region.
Base
One of the nitrogen-containing purines (adenine and guanine) or pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) that occurs attached to the sugar component of DNA or RNA.
Base
A bass singer or voice.
Base
Forming or serving as a base
A base layer of soil.
Base
Situated at or near the base or bottom
A base camp for the mountain climbers.
Base
(Chemistry) Of, relating to, or containing a base.
Base
Having or showing a lack of decency; contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish.
Base
Being a metal that is of little value.
Base
Containing such metals
Base coins.
Base
(Archaic) Of low birth, rank, or position.
Base
(Obsolete) Short in stature.
Base
To form or provide a base for
Based the new company in Portland.
Base
To find a basis for; establish
Based her conclusions on the report.
A film based on a best-selling novel.
Base
To assign to a base; station
Troops based in the Middle East.
Base
Something from which other things extend; a foundation.
Base
A supporting, lower or bottom component of a structure or object.
Base
The starting point of a logical deduction or thought; basis.
Base
A permanent structure for housing military personnel and material.
Base
The place where decisions for an organization are made; headquarters.
Base
A basic but essential component or ingredient.
Base
A substance used as a mordant in dyeing.
Base
(cosmetics) Foundation: a cosmetic cream to make the face appear uniform.
Base
(chemistry) Any of a class of generally water-soluble compounds, having bitter taste, that turn red litmus blue, and react with acids to form salts.
Base
Important areas in games and sports.
Base
A safe zone in the children's games of tag and hide-and-go-seek.
Base
(baseball) One of the four places that a runner can stand without being subject to being tagged out when the ball is in play.
Base
(architecture) The lowermost part of a column, between the shaft and the pedestal or pavement.
Base
A nucleotide's nucleobase in the context of a DNA or RNA biopolymer.
Base
(botany) The end of a leaf, petal or similar organ where it is attached to its support.
Base
(electronics) The name of the controlling terminal of a bipolar transistor (BJT).
Base
(geometry) The lowest side of a triangle or other polygon, or the lowest face of a cone, pyramid or other polyhedron laid flat.
Base
(heraldry) The lowest third of a shield or escutcheon.
Base
(heraldry) The lower part of the field. See escutcheon.
Base
(mathematics) A number raised to the power of an exponent.
The logarithm to base 2 of 8 is 3.
Base
(mathematics) radix.
Base
(topology) The set of sets from which a topology is generated.
Base
(topology) A topological space, looked at in relation to one of its covering spaces, fibrations, or bundles.
Base
(group theory) A sequence of elements not jointly stabilized by any nontrivial group element.
Base
In hand-to-hand balance, the person who supports the flyer; the person that remains in contact with the ground.
Base
(linguistics) A morpheme (or morphemes) that serves as a basic foundation on which affixes can be attached.
Base
(music) bass
Base
The smallest kind of cannon.
Base
(archaic) The housing of a horse.
Base
A kind of skirt (often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mail or other armour) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower.
Base
(obsolete) The lower part of a robe or petticoat.
Base
(obsolete) An apron.
Base
A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles.
Base
(politics) A group of voters who almost always support a single party's candidates for elected office.
Base
(Marxism) The forces and relations of production that produce the necessities and amenities of life.
Base
A material that holds paint or other materials together; a binder.
Base
(aviation) base leg
Base
(slang) freebase cocaine
Base
The game of prisoners' bars.
Base
Alternative form of BASE
Base
(transitive) To give as its foundation or starting point; to lay the foundation of.
Base
(transitive) To be located (at a particular place).
Base
To act as a base; to be the person supporting the flyer.
Base
(slang) To freebase.
Base
(obsolete) Low in height; short.
Base
Low in place or position.
Base
(obsolete) Of low value or degree.
Base
(archaic) Of low social standing or rank; vulgar, common.
Base
Morally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.
Base
Inferior; unworthy, of poor quality.
Base
(of a metal) Not considered precious or noble.
Base
Alloyed with inferior metal; debased.
Base coin
Base bullion
Base
(obsolete) Of illegitimate birth; bastard.
Base
Not classical or correct.
Base
Obsolete form of bass
The base tone of a violin
Base
(legal) Not held by honourable service.
A base estate is one held by services not honourable, or held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant is a base tenant.
Base
Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs.
Base
Low in place or position.
Base
Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean.
Base
Illegitimate by birth; bastard.
Why bastard? wherefore base?
Base
Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals.
Base
Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion.
Base
Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations.
Base
Not classical or correct.
Base
Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin.
Base
Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant.
Base
The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on which something rests for support; the foundation; as, the base of a statue.
Base
Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential principle; a groundwork.
Base
The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented.
Base
That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached to its support.
Base
The positive, or non-acid component of a salt; a substance which, combined with an acid, neutralizes the latter and forms a salt; - applied also to the hydroxides of the positive elements or radicals, and to certain organic bodies resembling them in their property of forming salts with acids.
Base
The chief ingredient in a compound.
Base
A substance used as a mordant.
Base
The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions.
Base
The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which it is supposed to stand.
Base
The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as, the base of a system of logarithms.
Base
A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part; the deepest male voice. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base.
The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar.
Base
A place or tract of country, protected by fortifications, or by natural advantages, from which the operations of an army proceed, forward movements are made, supplies are furnished, etc.
Base
The smallest kind of cannon.
Base
That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more central organ.
Base
The basal plane of a crystal.
Base
The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly crystalline.
Base
The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon.
Base
The housing of a horse.
Base
A kind of skirt (often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of mailed armor) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or lower.
Base
The lower part of a robe or petticoat.
Base
An apron.
Base
The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or a goal in various games.
To their appointed base they went.
Base
A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by a system of triangles.
Base
A rustic play; - called also prisoner's base, prison base, or bars.
Base
Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the infield.
Base
To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found, as an argument or conclusion; - used with on or upon.
Base
To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower.
If any . . . based his pike.
Base
To reduce the value of; to debase.
Metals which we can not base.
Base
Any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water;
Bases include oxides and hydroxides of metals and ammonia
Base
Installation from which a military force initiates operations;
The attack wiped out our forward bases
Base
Lowest support of a structure;
It was built on a base of solid rock
He stood at the foot of the tower
Base
Place that runner must touch before scoring;
He scrambled to get back to the bag
Base
(numeration system) the positive integer that is equivalent to one in the next higher counting place;
10 is the radix of the decimal system
Base
The bottom or lowest part;
The base of the mountain
Base
(anatomy) the part of an organ nearest its point of attachment;
The base of the skull
Base
A lower limit;
The government established a wage floor
Base
The fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained;
The whole argument rested on a basis of conjecture
Base
A support or foundation;
The base of the lamp
Base
The bottom side of a geometric figure from which the altitude can be constructed;
The base of the triangle
Base
The most important or necessary part of something;
The basis of this drink is orange juice
Base
The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
Base
An intensely anti-western terrorist network that dispenses money and logistical support and training to a wide variety of radical Islamic terrorist group; has cells in more than 50 countries
Base
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed;
Thematic vowels are part of the stem
Base
The stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area;
The industrial base of Japan
Base
The principal ingredient of a mixture;
Glycerinated gelatin is used as a base for many ointments
He told the painter that he wanted a yellow base with just a hint of green
Everything she cooked seemed to have rice as the base
Base
A flat bottom on which something is intended to sit;
A tub should sit on its own base
Base
(electronics) the part of a transistor that separates the emitter from the collector
Base
Use as a basis for; found on;
Base a claim on some observation
Base
Use (purified cocaine) by burning it and inhaling the fumes
Base
Assign to a station
Base
Serving as or forming a base;
The painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats
Base
(used of metals) consisting of or alloyed with inferior metal;
Base coins of aluminum
A base metal
Base
Of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense);
Baseborn wretches with dirty faces
Of humble (or lowly) birth
Base
Not adhering to ethical or moral principles;
Base and unpatriotic motives
A base, degrading way of life
Cheating is dishonorable
They considered colonialism immoral
Unethical practices in handling public funds
Base
Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality;
That liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble
Taking a mean advantage
Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
Something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
Base
Illegitimate
Base
Debased; not genuine;
An attempt to eliminate the base coinage
Common Curiosities
What does "base" mean in terms of character?
"Base" refers to morally low, dishonorable, or contemptible traits in a person.
What are examples of "base" actions?
Actions like lying, cheating, or being mean-spirited are considered base.
Is "base" always negative?
Yes, it typically has negative connotations, indicating a lack of higher values.
What qualifies as "evil" behavior?
Behavior involving deliberate harm, malevolence, or profound immorality is deemed evil.
Can "base" and "evil" be used interchangeably?
No, "base" implies lesser moral failings, while "evil" suggests profound wickedness.
Does "evil" imply intent?
Yes, "evil" often implies deliberate intent to cause significant harm.
Can a person be described as "base"?
Yes, a person can be described as base if their actions are morally low or dishonorable.
Is "base" less severe than "evil"?
Yes, base is generally considered less severe than evil.
How does society view "evil"?
Society views evil as profoundly wicked and harmful, often invoking fear or abhorrence.
Can "base" be used in non-moral contexts?
Rarely, it mostly pertains to moral judgment but can describe inferior quality.
What is a synonym for "base"?
Synonyms include ignoble, dishonorable, or contemptible.
What is a synonym for "evil"?
Synonyms include wicked, malevolent, or malicious.
Can "evil" be used lightly?
No, evil is typically used to describe very serious and profound immorality.
Are base actions always intentional?
Base actions can be intentional or due to a lack of higher values.
Can something be both base and evil?
Yes, actions or individuals can exhibit both base and evil qualities.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
