Evil vs. Wickedness — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 14, 2024
Evil typically refers to profound immorality and malevolence, while wickedness is often used to describe actions or behaviors that are morally bad or corrupt.
Difference Between Evil and Wickedness
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Evil is a broad concept often associated with profound immorality, harm, and the profound detriment to society, whereas wickedness generally denotes actions or intentions that are morally bad, unkind, or deliberately harmful.
Evil is used in a variety of contexts, often to describe overarching, significant harm that affects many, while wickedness might be employed more casually to discuss lesser or individual moral failings.
In literature, evil characters are frequently those who embody the worst of moral failures, often posing a major threat to the protagonist, whereas characters described as wicked might simply be mischievous or ethically dubious.
Theologically, evil is seen as a profound force or presence that opposes good, potentially involving supernatural elements; on the other hand, wickedness is usually a human attribute reflecting personal choices and behaviors.
Societally, actions deemed evil are often punishable by severe measures in legal systems, reflecting their gravity, while wicked actions might attract less severe, though still significant, legal consequences.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Profound immorality and malevolence.
Morally bad or corrupt actions or behaviors.
Usage in literature
Used for characters or forces embodying extreme malevolence.
Often describes characters with lesser moral failures.
Theological context
Sometimes involves supernatural elements as a force.
Primarily a human attribute, lacking supernatural scope.
Societal consequences
Actions considered evil warrant severe legal penalties.
Leads to less severe, though significant, consequences.
Typical implication
Suggests a deeper, often systemic malignancy.
Implies personal moral failure or ethical misjudgment.
Compare with Definitions
Evil
Profoundly immoral and malevolent.
The dictator's regime was marked by evil beyond comprehension.
Wickedness
The quality of being morally wrong.
His wickedness was apparent in his deceitful behavior.
Evil
A force that opposes good.
In many cultures, evil is represented by dark supernatural forces.
Wickedness
Involving or proceeding from sinful behavior.
Wickedness thrived in the corrupt corners of the city.
Evil
Wishing harm towards others.
His evil intentions were evident from his actions.
Wickedness
Characterized by or showing ill will.
She laughed with a wickedness that chilled everyone.
Evil
Morally reprehensible.
Stealing from the poor is considered an evil act.
Wickedness
Deliberately violating moral principles.
His plan was born out of sheer wickedness.
Evil
Harmful or injurious.
The evil effects of the pollution were visible everywhere.
Wickedness
Mischievous or playfully malicious.
The child's wickedness was mostly harmless but troublesome.
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.
Wickedness
Wickedness is generally considered a synonym for evil or sinfulness. Among theologians and philosophers, it has the more specific meaning of a profound evil committed consciously and of free will.
Evil
Morally bad or wrong; wicked
An evil tyrant.
Wickedness
Evil or immoral
"this wicked man Hitler, the repository and embodiment of many forms of soul-destroying hatred" (Winston S. Churchill).
Evil
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful
The evil effects of a poor diet.
Wickedness
Playfully malicious or mischievous
A wicked prank.
A critic's wicked wit.
Evil
Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous
Evil omens.
Wickedness
Severe and distressing
A wicked cough.
A wicked gash.
Wicked driving conditions.
Evil
Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous
An evil reputation.
Wickedness
Highly offensive; obnoxious
A wicked stench.
Evil
Characterized by anger or spite; malicious
An evil temper.
Wickedness
(Slang) Strikingly good, effective, or skillful
A wicked curve ball.
A wicked imitation.
Evil
The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
Wickedness
Used as an intensive
"a ... body suit, which she describes as wicked comfortable" (Nathan Cobb).
Evil
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction
A leader's power to do both good and evil.
Wickedness
The state of being wicked; evil disposition; immorality.
Evil
An evil force, power, or personification.
Wickedness
A wicked or sinful thing or act; morally bad or objectionable behaviour.
Evil
Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction
The social evils of poverty and injustice.
Wickedness
The quality or state of being wicked; departure from the rules of the divine or the moral law; evil disposition or practices; immorality; depravity; sinfulness.
God saw that the wickedness of man was great.
Their inward part is very wickedness.
Evil
In an evil manner.
Wickedness
A wicked thing or act; crime; sin; iniquity.
I'll never care what wickedness I do,If this man comes to good.
Evil
Intending to harm; malevolent.
An evil plot to brainwash and even kill innocent people
Wickedness
Morally objectionable behavior
Evil
Morally corrupt.
If something is evil, it is never mandatory.
Do you think that companies that engage in animal testing are evil?
Wickedness
Absence of moral or spiritual values;
The powers of darkness
Evil
Unpleasant, foul (of odour, taste, mood, weather, etc.).
Wickedness
The quality of being wicked
Evil
Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity; unpropitious; calamitous.
Wickedness
Estrangement from god
Evil
(obsolete) Having harmful qualities; not good; worthless or deleterious.
An evil beast; an evil plant; an evil crop
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.
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.
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.
Evil
(obsolete) A malady or disease; especially in combination, as in king's evil, colt evil.
Evil
(obsolete) wickedly, evilly, iniquitously
Evil
(obsolete) injuriously, harmfully; in a damaging way.
Evil
(obsolete) badly, poorly; in an insufficient way.
It went evil with him.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Evil
Morally objectionable behavior
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
Evil
The quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice;
Attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world
Evil
Morally bad or wrong;
Evil purposes
An evil influence
Evil deeds
Evil
Having the nature of vice
Evil
Tending to cause great harm
Evil
Having or exerting a malignant influence;
Malevolent stars
A malefic force
Common Curiosities
Is wickedness less severe than evil?
Typically, yes; wickedness is often seen as less severe compared to the profound immorality implied by evil.
How do different cultures view evil and wickedness?
Cultural interpretations can vary, but generally, evil is seen as a more severe, often supernatural opposition to good, while wickedness is a more personal, human failing.
Can wicked actions ever be considered evil?
Yes, if wicked actions cause significant harm or are part of a larger pattern of moral failure, they can be considered evil.
Can a person be evil without being wicked?
Yes, in some contexts, 'evil' can describe a force or influence, whereas 'wickedness' is always a personal attribute.
Is it possible for an action to be wicked but not evil?
Yes, actions that are morally wrong on a lesser scale without profound implications can be considered wicked but not necessarily evil.
What is the primary difference between evil and wickedness?
Evil implies a deeper level of moral wrong, often systemic or profound, while wickedness generally refers to individual actions or behaviors that are morally corrupt.
How do legal systems differentiate between evil and wicked actions?
Legal systems may impose stricter penalties for actions considered evil due to their severe impact, while wicked actions might attract less severe penalties.
Can someone be inherently evil?
Views vary, but some philosophical and religious perspectives consider some individuals or forces inherently evil.
Is wickedness always intentional?
Wickedness generally involves deliberate wrongdoing, although the intent can vary in its degree of malice.
How does literature portray evil and wickedness?
Literature often uses evil as a central conflict involving great peril, while wickedness might be portrayed through flawed but potentially redeemable characters.
How do children learn the concepts of evil and wickedness?
Children typically learn these concepts through cultural stories, parental teaching, and societal norms.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Yep vs. Yap
Next Comparison
Dissect vs. VivisectionAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
