Pride vs. Envy — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
Pride involves a deep satisfaction derived from one's achievements, possessions, or qualities, whereas envy stems from a desire for others' traits, status, or possessions.
Difference Between Pride and Envy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pride is often considered a positive emotion when it reflects a healthy self-esteem and accomplishment, whereas envy typically appears as a negative feeling that arises from coveting what someone else has.
Pride can boost one's confidence and motivate personal growth, enhancing self-worth. In contrast, envy might lead to feelings of inadequacy and discontent, often resulting in a diminished sense of self.
While pride can be communal, celebrating collective achievements in cultural or group successes, envy is generally isolating, focusing on personal deficits in comparison to others.
While pride is associated with achievements that can be shared and celebrated, envy often involves secrecy and a desire to possess what others have without necessarily achieving it.
Although both emotions can drive individuals to change and achieve, pride does so by building upon one's capabilities, whereas envy might push individuals to undercut or harm others to obtain what they want.
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Comparison Chart
Emotion Type
Positive or neutral, depending on context
Generally negative
Focus
Self or group achievements, qualities
Others' achievements, qualities, possessions
Outcome
Motivation, self-esteem increase, joy
Resentment, discontent, isolation
Social Aspect
Can be individual or communal
Primarily individual
Behavioral Impact
Often leads to openness, sharing of success
Often leads to secrecy, desire to take from others
Compare with Definitions
Pride
Pleasure from association with someone or something.
They took great pride in their ancestral home.
Envy
Desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attributes belonging to someone else.
She felt envy towards her friend's new car.
Pride
A sense of dignity and self-respect.
His pride made him refuse the unfair offer.
Envy
Used to emphasize the desirability of someone's situation or possessions.
You have an office with a view, how I envy you!
Pride
A group of lions.
A pride of lions was spotted resting in the shade.
Envy
Jealousy over another's success or advantages.
His promotion led to envy among his colleagues.
Pride
A feeling of satisfaction derived from one's own achievements.
She felt immense pride after winning the award.
Envy
A resentful longing evoked by someone else’s possessions.
Envy ate at her when she saw her neighbor's luxury.
Pride
To pride oneself on; to be proud of something specific.
He prides himself on his cooking skills.
Envy
An emotion that diminishes one's sense of well-being.
Envy can spoil genuine friendships.
Pride
Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association
Parental pride.
Envy
Envy (from Latin invidia) is an emotion which occurs when a person lacks another's superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it.Aristotle defined envy as pain at the sight of another's good fortune, stirred by "those who have what we ought to have". Bertrand Russell said that envy was one of the most potent causes of unhappiness.
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; an unreasonable overestimation of one's own superiority in terms of talents, looks, wealth, importance etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.
Envy
A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck
She felt a twinge of envy for the people on board
Pride
Pride is positive emotional response or attitude to something with an intimate connection to oneself, due to its perceived value. Oxford defines it amongst other things as "the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one's own importance" This may be related to one's own abilities or achievements, positive characteristics of friends or family, or one's country.
Envy
Desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable thing belonging to (someone else)
I envy Jane her happiness
He envied people who did not have to work at the weekends
Pride
A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.
Envy
(obsolete) Hatred, enmity, ill-feeling.
Pride
Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.
Envy
A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another. See Usage Note at jealous.
Pride
A cause or source of pleasure or satisfaction; the best of a group or class
These soldiers were their country's pride.
Envy
The object of such feeling
Their new pool made them the envy of their neighbors.
Pride
The most successful or thriving condition; prime
The pride of youth.
Envy
(Obsolete) Malevolence.
Pride
An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceit.
Envy
To feel envy toward (another person).
Pride
Mettle or spirit in horses.
Envy
To regard (something) with envy.
Pride
A flamboyant or impressive group
A pride of acrobats.
Envy
Resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).
Pride
To indulge (oneself) in a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction
I pride myself on this beautiful garden.
Envy
An object of envious notice or feeling.
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and scorn for what is beneath or unworthy of oneself; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; rejection of shame
He took pride in his work.
He had pride of ownership in his department.
Envy
(obsolete) Emulation; rivalry.
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation.
Envy
(obsolete) Public odium; ill repute.
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-congratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
Envy
A red-skinned variety of eating apple.
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Envy
(transitive) To feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.
Pride
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory.
Envy
(transitive) To resentfully or discontentedly desire (something someone else has that one lacks).
Pride
Consciousness of power; fullness of animal spirits; mettle; wantonness.
Envy
To have envious feelings (at).
Pride
(zoology) The small European lamprey species Petromyzon branchialis.
Envy
To give (something) to (someone) grudgingly or reluctantly; to begrudge.
Pride
(reflexive) To take or experience pride in something; to be proud of it.
I pride myself on being a good judge of character.
Envy
(obsolete) To show malice or ill will; to rail.
Pride
A small European lamprey (Petromyzon branchialis); - called also prid, and sandpiper.
Envy
(obsolete) To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.
Pride
The quality or state of being proud; inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.
Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt.
Envy
(obsolete) To hate.
Pride
A sense of one's own worth, and abhorrence of what is beneath or unworthy of one; lofty self-respect; noble self-esteem; elevation of character; dignified bearing; proud delight; - in a good sense.
Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride.
A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants.
Envy
(obsolete) To emulate.
Pride
Proud or disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing and conduct; insolent exultation; disdain.
Let not the foot of pride come against me.
That hardly we escaped the pride of France.
Envy
Malice; ill will; spite.
If he evade us there,Enforce him with his envy to the people.
Pride
That of which one is proud; that which excites boasting or self-gratulation; the occasion or ground of self-esteem, or of arrogant and presumptuous confidence, as beauty, ornament, noble character, children, etc.
Lofty trees yclad with summer's pride.
I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
A bold peasantry, their country's pride.
Envy
Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging; - usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of Cæsar.
Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of another, or anger and displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage another hath above us.
No blissEnjoyed by us excites his envy more.
Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave,Is emulation in the learned or brave.
Pride
Show; ostentation; glory.
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.
Envy
Emulation; rivalry.
Such as cleanliness and decencyPrompt to a virtuous envy.
Pride
Highest pitch; elevation reached; loftiness; prime; glory; as, to be in the pride of one's life.
A falcon, towering in her pride of place.
Envy
Public odium; ill repute.
To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero.
Pride
To indulge in pride, or self-esteem; to rate highly; to plume; - used reflexively.
Pluming and priding himself in all his services.
Envy
An object of envious notice or feeling.
This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world.
Pride
To be proud; to glory.
Envy
To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to possess it.
A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a woman for her beauty.
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority.
Pride
A feeling of self-respect and personal worth
Envy
To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging upon; to begrudge.
I have seen thee fight,When I have envied thy behavior.
Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their cool mountain breezes.
Pride
Satisfaction with your (or another's) achievements;
He takes pride in his son's success
Envy
To long after; to desire strongly; to covet.
Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share.
Pride
The trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
Envy
To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.
If I make a lieTo gain your love and envy my best mistress,Put me against a wall.
Pride
A group of lions
Envy
To hate.
Pride
Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins)
Envy
To emulate.
Pride
Be proud of;
He prides himself on making it into law school
Envy
To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with grudging and longing eyes; - used especially with at.
Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked?
Envy
To show malice or ill will; to rail.
Envy
A feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something possessed by another
Envy
Spite and resentment at seeing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins)
Envy
Feel envious towards; admire enviously
Envy
Be envious of; set one's heart on
Common Curiosities
Can pride be negative?
Yes, excessive pride can lead to arrogance or hubris.
What is the main emotional impact of pride?
Pride generally increases self-esteem and contentment.
How does envy affect personal relationships?
Envy can damage relationships through resentment and mistrust.
Is envy always harmful?
While often seen as negative, envy can sometimes motivate self-improvement.
What are typical expressions of pride?
Expressions of pride include sharing accomplishments or displaying awards.
Can pride be based on others’ achievements?
Yes, one can feel pride in others' achievements, like a parent for a child.
How can pride benefit a workplace?
Pride can boost morale and productivity through a sense of accomplishment.
How do people typically express envy?
Envy is often expressed through jealousy or covetous remarks.
What is the difference between envy and jealousy?
Envy is wanting what others have, while jealousy fears losing what one has to another.
Is pride culturally influenced?
Yes, cultural values can shape what individuals feel proud of.
What are the dangers of envy in a workplace?
Envy can lead to a toxic environment, undermining cooperation.
How can one manage feelings of envy?
Focusing on personal growth and recognizing one’s own values helps manage envy.
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Written 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.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
