Evil vs. Wicked: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Evil generally refers to profound immorality and malevolence, whereas wicked often describes actions or behaviors that are morally wrong, mischievous, or troublesome.
Key Differences
Evil is a term that typically connotes profound immorality, wickedness, and depravity, especially when concerning human conduct. It implies a severe moral deficiency. Wicked, although similar in context, is often used to describe actions or behaviors that are morally wrong or unethical, but may carry a less intense connotation than evil.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
The concept of evil is often associated with actions or intentions that are universally considered harmful, destructive, or morally reprehensible at a fundamental level. Wicked, on the other hand, can also imply mischievousness or playful malevolence, which might not be as severe as the implications of evil.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Evil is frequently used in a broader, sometimes metaphysical context, such as in discussions of philosophy, religion, and ethics, where it denotes a profound level of malevolence. Wicked, in contrast, is often used in everyday language to describe actions or individuals that are morally wrong but might not reach the level of causing profound harm or destruction.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
In literature and popular culture, evil characters or forces are often depicted as having malicious intent on a grand scale. Wicked characters, while also negative, may be portrayed with less intense malevolence, often characterized by cunning, dishonesty, or mischievous behavior.
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Dec 09, 2023
The perception of what constitutes evil can vary greatly across different cultures and moral systems. Wicked, being a more flexible term, is often subject to a wider range of interpretations based on cultural and situational contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Cultural Perception
Varies, but generally seen as fundamentally harmful
More subjective, can include playful malevolence
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Dec 09, 2023
Literary Representation
Malicious intent, grand scale
Cunning, dishonesty, mischievousness
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Dec 09, 2023
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Evil and Wicked Definitions
Evil
Profoundly immoral and malevolent.
The dictator's regime was marked by evil deeds against humanity.
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Dec 09, 2023
Wicked
Severely unpleasant or disagreeable.
The storm brought wicked winds and heavy rain.
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Dec 09, 2023
Evil
Harmful or injurious in a profound way.
The evil consequences of the war were felt for generations.
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Dec 09, 2023
Wicked
Disobedient, wayward, or sinful.
The wicked child refused to listen to any rules.
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Dec 09, 2023
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Wicked
Intended to or capable of harming someone or something.
The wicked curse caused nothing but trouble.
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Dec 09, 2023
Evil
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful
The evil effects of a poor diet.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wicked
Playfully mischievous; sly or cunning.
He had a wicked sense of humor that often got him into trouble.
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Dec 09, 2023
Wicked
Evil or immoral
"this wicked man Hitler, the repository and embodiment of many forms of soul-destroying hatred" (Winston S. Churchill).
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Oct 19, 2023
Wicked
Playfully malicious or mischievous
A wicked prank.
A critic's wicked wit.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wicked
Severe and distressing
A wicked cough.
A wicked gash.
Wicked driving conditions.
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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
Wicked
(Slang) Strikingly good, effective, or skillful
A wicked curve ball.
A wicked imitation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wicked
Used as an intensive
"a ... body suit, which she describes as wicked comfortable" (Nathan Cobb).
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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
Wicked
Evil or mischievous by nature.
Genuine cowards follow wicked people and cannot reliably sustain any virtue.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wicked
(slang) Excellent; awesome; masterful.
That was a wicked guitar solo, bro!
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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
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
Wicked
Very, extremely.
The band we went to see the other night was wicked loud!
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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
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
Wicked
Having a wick; - used chiefly in composition; as, a two-wicked lamp.
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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
Wicked
Evil in principle or practice; deviating from morality; contrary to the moral or divine law; addicted to vice or sin; sinful; immoral; profligate; - said of persons and things; as, a wicked king; a wicked woman; a wicked deed; wicked designs.
Hence, then, and evil go with thee along,Thy offspring, to the place of evil, hell,Thou and thy wicked crew!
Never, never, wicked man was wise.
Shumaila Saeed
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
Wicked
Cursed; baneful; hurtful; bad; pernicious; dangerous.
This were a wicked way, but whoso had a guide.
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Oct 19, 2023
Wicked
Ludicrously or sportively mischievous; disposed to mischief; roguish.
Pen looked uncommonly wicked.
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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
Wicked
Intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality;
Severe pain
A severe case of flu
A terrible cough
Under wicked fire from the enemy's guns
A wicked cough
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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
Wicked
Highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust;
A disgusting smell
Distasteful language
A loathsome disease
The idea of eating meat is repellent to me
Revolting food
A wicked stench
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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.
Shumaila Saeed
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
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
Evil
Having or exerting a malignant influence;
Malevolent stars
A malefic force
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Oct 19, 2023
Evil
A force that opposes moral goodness or ethical righteousness.
In many religions, evil is contrasted with the divine or the sacred.
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Dec 09, 2023
Evil
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful.
The evil spell cast by the sorcerer brought despair to the land.
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Dec 09, 2023
Evil
Characterized by badness or wickedness.
Her evil intentions were hidden behind a façade of kindness.
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Dec 09, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What's the opposite of "evil"?
The opposite of "evil" is typically "good" or "virtuous."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
How is wicked defined?
Wicked describes actions or behaviors that are morally wrong or mischievous.
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Dec 09, 2023
Are there different degrees or types of "evil"?
Yes, "evil" can range from mild wrongdoing to extreme malevolence, and there are various forms of evil, such as moral evil and natural evil.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can evil actions be justified?
Typically, evil actions are considered unjustifiable due to their profound immorality.
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Dec 09, 2023
Are there synonyms for "evil"?
Synonyms for "evil" include wicked, malevolent, immoral, and sinful.
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Dec 09, 2023
What is the origin of the word "evil"?
The word "evil" has Old English and Germanic roots and has been in use for centuries.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can people or actions be "evil" without any redeeming qualities?
Yes, something or someone can be considered entirely evil when their actions lack any positive or redeeming qualities.
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Dec 09, 2023
Is "evil" a subjective concept?
While there may be subjective elements to what is considered evil, certain actions or behaviors are widely regarded as evil across cultures and societies.
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Dec 09, 2023
Can "wicked" be used to describe something that is merely mischievous or naughty?
Yes, "wicked" can be used to describe actions or behavior that are somewhat mischievous or naughty without being deeply malevolent.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
What is the origin of the word "wicked"?
"Wicked" has Old English and Middle English origins and has evolved over time to have various meanings.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Is "wicked" a subjective term?
Like "evil," "wicked" can have subjective elements, but it is generally understood in context.
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Dec 09, 2023
What are some synonyms for "wicked"?
Synonyms for "wicked" include evil, sinful, immoral, and malevolent.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Is "wicked" a more informal term than "evil"?
Yes, "wicked" is often used in casual conversation and can have a less severe connotation than "evil."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
Can "wicked" have a positive meaning?
In informal contexts, "wicked" can be used to describe something as exceptionally good or impressive, such as "a wicked guitar solo."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 09, 2023
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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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