Devil vs. Evil: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Devil is a specific supernatural being associated with temptation and malevolence, while Evil is a general term for morally wrong or harmful actions, thoughts, or conditions.
Key Differences
Devil is often depicted as a malevolent supernatural entity in various religious beliefs, symbolizing temptation and evil. In contrast, Evil refers to actions, thoughts, or conditions that are morally reprehensible, harmful, or wicked, without necessarily being personified.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 03, 2023
In literature and folklore, the Devil is a character representing ultimate wickedness or moral corruption, often portrayed with specific attributes like horns or a forked tail. Evil, on the other hand, is a broader concept encompassing all types of morally wrong or harmful behavior, not limited to a single entity.
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Dec 03, 2023
Devil is usually a specific figure in religious and cultural narratives, embodying the opposition to good, often seen as a tempter or deceiver. Evil encompasses a wide range of negative moral qualities such as cruelty, injustice, and malevolence, applicable to actions, situations, and even thoughts.
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Dec 03, 2023
The concept of the Devil varies across different cultures and religions, often associated with punishment, sin, and the supernatural. Evil, however, is a more universal concept, recognized across cultures and belief systems as that which is morally wrong or harmful.
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Dec 03, 2023
In psychological and philosophical discussions, the Devil can symbolize the darker aspects of human nature or personified evil. Conversely, Evil is often debated in terms of its nature, origin, and impact on human behavior and society.
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Dec 03, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Philosophical Aspect
Symbol of personified evil
Nature and impact on society
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Devil and Evil Definitions
Devil
The Devil is a personification of evil in many religions.
Folktales often feature the Devil as a cunning antagonist.
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Nov 25, 2023
Evil
Evil is often a source of suffering and injustice.
In the novel, evil forces threatened the peaceful kingdom.
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Nov 25, 2023
Devil
Often Devil In many religions, the major personified spirit of evil, ruler of Hell, and foe of God. Used with the.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Evil
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful
The evil effects of a poor diet.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A device or machine, especially one having teeth or spikes and used for tearing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction
A leader's power to do both good and evil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
An outstanding example, especially of something difficult or bad
Has a devil of a temper.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A severe reprimand or expression of anger
Gave me the devil for cutting class.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction
The social evils of poverty and injustice.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Intending to harm; malevolent.
An evil plot to brainwash and even kill innocent people
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Morally corrupt.
If something is evil, it is never mandatory.
Do you think that companies that engage in animal testing are evil?
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity; unpropitious; calamitous.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
(theology) An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
(obsolete) Having harmful qualities; not good; worthless or deleterious.
An evil beast; an evil plant; an evil crop
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
(folklore) A fictional image of a man, usually red or orange in skin color; with a set of horns on his head, a pointed goatee and a long tail and carrying a pitchfork; that represents evil and portrayed to children in an effort to discourage bad behavior.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
The bad part of the conscience; the opposite to the angel.
The devil in me wants to let him suffer.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A wicked or naughty person, or one who harbors reckless, spirited energy, especially in a mischievous way; usually said of a young child.
Those two kids are devils in a toy store.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A thing that is awkward or difficult to understand or do.
That math problem was a devil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
(obsolete) A malady or disease; especially in combination, as in king's evil, colt evil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
Hell.
What in the devil is that?
What the devil is that?
She is having a devil of a time fixing it.
You can go to the devil for all I care.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A person, especially a man; used to express a particular opinion of him, usually in the phrases poor devil and lucky devil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
(obsolete) badly, poorly; in an insufficient way.
It went evil with him.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
(cookery) A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
An endurance event where riders who fall behind are periodically eliminated.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
The quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice;
Attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
To work as a ‘devil’; to work for a lawyer or writer without fee or recognition.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
To grill with cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Having or exerting a malignant influence;
Malevolent stars
A malefic force
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
To prepare a sidedish of shelled halved boiled eggs to whose extracted yolks are added condiments and spices, which mixture then is placed into the halved whites to be served.
She's going to devil four dozen eggs for the picnic.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Evil denotes actions or thoughts that are morally wrong.
The dictator's regime was remembered for its evil deeds.
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Nov 25, 2023
Devil
The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind.
[Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil.
That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Evil involves intentions or actions that cause harm.
Spreading lies about others is an evil act.
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Nov 25, 2023
Evil
Evil is the antithesis of good in moral contexts.
The battle between good and evil is a common theme in epics.
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Nov 25, 2023
Devil
A very wicked person; hence, any great evil.
Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
Evil is a universally acknowledged concept in ethics.
Philosophers have long debated the nature of evil.
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Nov 25, 2023
Devil
An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically, of negation.
The devil a puritan that he is, . . . but a timepleaser.
The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare,But wonder how the devil they got there.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.
Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper.
A deviled leg of turkey.
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A word used in exclamations of confusion;
What the devil
The deuce with it
The dickens you say
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
A rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man);
He chased the young hellions out of his yard
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations;
Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me
It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves
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Oct 19, 2023
Devil
The Devil is often seen as a supernatural being opposing good.
In the story, the hero outwitted the Devil at his own game.
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Nov 25, 2023
Devil
The Devil symbolizes temptation and moral corruption.
He faced a moral dilemma, like making a deal with the Devil.
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Nov 25, 2023
Devil
The Devil appears as a cultural icon in various myths and stories.
The Devil is depicted with horns and a tail in medieval art.
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Nov 25, 2023
Devil
The Devil can represent internal moral struggles.
She described her inner conflicts as fighting her personal devils.
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Nov 25, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What defines Evil?
Evil refers to morally reprehensible, harmful, or wicked actions or thoughts.
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Dec 03, 2023
Can the Devil be a metaphor?
Yes, the Devil can be used metaphorically to represent inner moral struggles or temptations.
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Dec 03, 2023
What is the Devil?
The Devil is a supernatural entity often associated with evil and temptation.
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Dec 03, 2023
Is Evil always personified?
Evil is a concept and not always personified; it can be present in actions or situations.
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Dec 03, 2023
Are Evil acts always intentional?
Evil acts often involve harmful intentions, but can also result from negligence or ignorance.
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Dec 03, 2023
What role does Evil play in moral decision-making?
Evil serves as a counterpoint in understanding and making ethical choices.
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Dec 03, 2023
Is Evil subjective or universal?
While interpretations of evil can vary, it is generally seen as a universal concept in ethics.
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Dec 03, 2023
How does the Devil relate to religious beliefs?
The Devil is a figure in many religions, symbolizing opposition to good and moral virtue.
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Dec 03, 2023
Can the Devil be a force for good in any context?
Traditionally, the Devil is seen as malevolent, but some stories use the figure in complex ways.
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Dec 03, 2023
How do people differentiate between Evil and lesser wrongs?
The degree of moral reprehensibility and harm often differentiates evil from lesser wrongs.
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Dec 03, 2023
Is belief in the Devil necessary for religious faith?
Belief in the Devil varies and is not necessary for all religious faiths.
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Dec 03, 2023
Can Evil exist without a conscious agent?
Yes, evil can be present in harmful systems or situations, not just in conscious actions.
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Dec 03, 2023
Do all cultures have a concept of the Devil?
Many cultures have a concept of a devil-like figure, but interpretations vary widely.
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Dec 03, 2023
Does the Devil have different names in various cultures?
Yes, the Devil is known by various names and forms in different cultural contexts.
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Dec 03, 2023
Can the Devil be a symbol of rebellion?
In some contexts, the Devil symbolizes rebellion against authority or conventional morality.
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Dec 03, 2023
What philosophical questions does Evil raise?
Evil raises questions about the nature of morality, human choice, and the existence of suffering.
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Dec 03, 2023
Are depictions of the Devil consistent across literature?
Literary depictions of the Devil vary, reflecting different cultural and moral viewpoints.
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Dec 03, 2023
Can an action be evil if it has good intentions?
Actions with good intentions can still be considered evil if they cause significant harm.
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Dec 03, 2023
How is the Devil depicted in popular culture?
The Devil is often depicted as a cunning, malevolent figure in popular culture.
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Dec 03, 2023
Does the concept of Evil change over time?
The understanding of what constitutes evil can evolve with societal and moral shifts.
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Dec 03, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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