Devil vs. Evil — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 30, 2023
Devil refers to a specific supernatural entity or demon, while "Evil" denotes a broad concept of moral wickedness or wrongdoing. Both can represent negative forces, but their applications are distinct.
Difference Between Devil and Evil
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The word "Devil" typically denotes a supernatural being or entity, often associated with temptation, deceit, and malevolence in various religious beliefs. On the other hand, "Evil" is a more expansive term that describes a moral or ethical wrongdoing or malevolence in thought or action.
While "Devil" has a personification element – often portrayed as a horned, pitchfork-wielding figure in popular culture – "Evil" is an intangible concept, representing anything that is harmful, destructive, or morally corrupt. "Evil" can be an action, thought, or inherent nature, whereas "Devil" is a defined entity.
In Christian theology, the "Devil" or Satan tempts individuals to commit "Evil" acts, driving a clear distinction between the tempter and the act itself. This underscores that while the "Devil" can be a source of malevolence, "Evil" encompasses the vast array of malevolent actions themselves.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A supernatural entity or demon
Moral wickedness or wrongdoing
Application
Religious texts, myths, popular culture
Ethical discussions, descriptions of harm
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Nature
Personified being
Abstract concept
Relation to Morality
Tempter, source of malevolence
Represents the act or nature of wrongdoing
Colloquial Use
"Play devil's advocate"
"Lesser of two evils"
Compare with Definitions
Devil
The chief evil spirit in some religions.
In Christianity, the Devil is also called Satan.
Evil
A force or concept opposing good; morally wrong.
Stealing from others is an Evil act.
Devil
A thing that causes distress or torment.
This computer is a Devil to fix!
Evil
Harmful or injurious effects.
The Evil effects of smoking are well-documented.
Devil
A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.It is difficult to specify a particular definition of any complexity that will cover all of the traditions, beyond that it is a manifestation of evil.
Evil
Profound immorality or wickedness.
He was known for his Evil deeds.
Devil
Often Devil In many religions, the major personified spirit of evil, ruler of Hell, and foe of God. Used with the.
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.
Devil
A subordinate evil spirit; a demon.
Evil
Morally bad or wrong; wicked
An evil tyrant.
Devil
A wicked or malevolent person.
Evil
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful
The evil effects of a poor diet.
Devil
A person
A handsome devil.
The poor devil.
Evil
Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous
Evil omens.
Devil
An energetic, mischievous, daring, or clever person.
Evil
Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous
An evil reputation.
Devil
(Printing) A printer's devil.
Evil
Characterized by anger or spite; malicious
An evil temper.
Devil
A device or machine, especially one having teeth or spikes and used for tearing.
Evil
The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
Devil
An outstanding example, especially of something difficult or bad
Has a devil of a temper.
Evil
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction
A leader's power to do both good and evil.
Devil
A severe reprimand or expression of anger
Gave me the devil for cutting class.
Evil
An evil force, power, or personification.
Devil
(Informal) Used as an intensive
Who the devil do you think you are?.
Evil
Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction
The social evils of poverty and injustice.
Devil
To season (food) heavily.
Evil
In an evil manner.
Devil
To annoy, torment, or harass.
Evil
Intending to harm; malevolent.
An evil plot to brainwash and even kill innocent people
Devil
To tear up (cloth or rags) in a toothed machine.
Evil
Morally corrupt.
If something is evil, it is never mandatory.
Do you think that companies that engage in animal testing are evil?
Devil
(theology) The chief devil; Satan.
Evil
Unpleasant, foul (of odour, taste, mood, weather, etc.).
Devil
(theology) An evil creature, the objectification of a hostile and destructive force.
Evil
Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity; unpropitious; calamitous.
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.
Evil
(obsolete) Having harmful qualities; not good; worthless or deleterious.
An evil beast; an evil plant; an evil crop
Devil
The bad part of the conscience; the opposite to the angel.
The devil in me wants to let him suffer.
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.
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.
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.
Devil
A thing that is awkward or difficult to understand or do.
That math problem was a devil.
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.
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.
Evil
(obsolete) A malady or disease; especially in combination, as in king's evil, colt evil.
Devil
A person, especially a man; used to express a particular opinion of him, usually in the phrases poor devil and lucky devil.
Evil
(obsolete) wickedly, evilly, iniquitously
Devil
A printer's assistant.
Evil
(obsolete) injuriously, harmfully; in a damaging way.
Devil
(India) A poltergeist that haunts printing works.
Evil
(obsolete) badly, poorly; in an insufficient way.
It went evil with him.
Devil
A dust devil.
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.
Devil
A barren, unproductive and unused area.
Devil strip
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.
Devil
(cookery) A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.
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.
Devil
A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc.
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.
Devil
A Tasmanian devil.
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.
Devil
An endurance event where riders who fall behind are periodically eliminated.
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.
Devil
(nautical) devil seam: {{ngd}}
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.
Devil
To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
Evil
Morally objectionable behavior
Devil
To annoy or bother.
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
Devil
To work as a ‘devil’; to work for a lawyer or writer without fee or recognition.
Evil
The quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice;
Attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world
Devil
To prepare (food) with spices, making it spicy:
Evil
Morally bad or wrong;
Evil purposes
An evil influence
Evil deeds
Devil
To grill with cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper.
Evil
Having the nature of vice
Devil
To finely grind cooked ham or other meat with spices and condiments.
Evil
Tending to cause great harm
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.
Evil
Having or exerting a malignant influence;
Malevolent stars
A malefic force
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.
Evil
Marked by bad events or misfortune.
An Evil omen clouded the start of their journey.
Devil
An evil spirit; a demon.
A dumb man possessed with a devil.
Evil
Anything causing harm or distress.
Excess sugar can be an Evil for your health.
Devil
A very wicked person; hence, any great evil.
Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
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.
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.
Devil
A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc.
Devil
To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
Devil
To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper.
A deviled leg of turkey.
Devil
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
Devil
One of the evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian belief
Devil
A word used in exclamations of confusion;
What the devil
The deuce with it
The dickens you say
Devil
A rowdy or mischievous person (usually a young man);
He chased the young hellions out of his yard
Devil
A cruel wicked and inhuman person
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
Devil
Coat or stuff with a spicy paste;
Devilled eggs
Devil
A supernatural being often representing evil or temptation.
People sometimes depict the Devil with horns and a tail.
Devil
A person with wicked or mischievous characteristics.
That child can be a little Devil when he wants to be!
Devil
An idiomatically used term indicating a contrary perspective.
I'll play Devil's advocate and argue the opposite side.
Common Curiosities
Are "Devil" and "Evil" synonymous?
No, while both have negative connotations, "Devil" is an entity, and "Evil" is a concept of wrongdoing.
Can "Evil" exist without a "Devil"?
Yes, "Evil" as a concept of wrongdoing can exist independently of a specific tempter or source.
Is "Evil" always a moral concept?
Primarily, yes, but it can also describe harm or distress in general terms.
How is "Devil" commonly portrayed?
Often as a horned, red figure with a tail and pitchfork, especially in popular culture.
Can humans be described as "Evil"?
Yes, if their actions are morally corrupt or cause harm, they might be described as such.
Are all acts associated with the "Devil" considered "Evil"?
Generally, acts attributed to the "Devil" have negative or malevolent connotations, aligning with "Evil."
Is the "Devil" exclusive to Christianity?
No, variations of the "Devil" or evil spirits exist in many religions and mythologies.
Can "Devil" be used light-heartedly?
Yes, like calling a mischievous child a "little devil."
Can "Devil" represent something good?
Typically, "Devil" represents malevolence, but in idiomatic expressions like "devil's advocate," it's neutral.
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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.
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.
