Bad vs. Evil: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 20, 2023
Bad" refers to something incorrect or of poor quality, while "evil" denotes profound immorality and wickedness.
Key Differences
"Bad" and "evil" are both negative descriptors, but they operate on different levels of severity and moral judgment. "Bad" is a broad term, often used to describe something that is not as it should be, from a minor misbehavior to a poorly made product. It's an umbrella term for anything that doesn't meet expected standards, including actions, quality, or outcomes. "Evil," however, is more intense, used to describe actions or characteristics steeped in malice, intending serious harm.
The implications of "bad" can be subjective, varying based on context. A movie might be bad because it's unenjoyable, or a decision is bad because it leads to unwanted outcomes. It denotes a negative assessment but doesn't necessarily imply malevolence. "Evil," conversely, always carries a weight of moral reprehensibility; it is associated with malicious intent, cruelty, and a conscious desire to harm others.
In terms of moral philosophy, "bad" is less severe than "evil." A bad action may be unethical or wrong, yet not arise from a place of profound malevolence. It could be due to poor judgment, ignorance, or accident. "Evil" suggests a deeper, inherent wickedness driving actions, often threatening fundamental moral codes and human dignity.
"Bad" can also be neutral, relating to quality or condition rather than morality. Food can go bad, or the weather can be bad, with no ethical dimension. "Evil," however, is inherently moral and never neutral. It speaks of acts, characters, or events that embody the utmost negative moral degradation, often invoking strong emotional responses.
Lastly, "bad" and "evil" can sometimes be used interchangeably in casual conversation, but their true meanings are distinct. Calling someone a bad person might refer to general disagreeableness or unethical behavior, but labeling someone evil implies they are diabolical, committing atrocities with malevolent delight.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Not meeting standards; incorrect
Profound immorality, wickedness
Moral Weight
Lighter, subjective
Heavier, absolute
Context
Quality, behavior, decisions
Intentional harm, malevolence
Severity
Can be minor or major
Always major, egregious
Neutrality
Can be morally neutral
Never neutral; always morally charged
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Bad and Evil Definitions
Bad
Bad means incorrect or wrong.
His answer on the test was bad.
Evil
Evil means profoundly immoral and wicked.
The dictator's actions were pure evil.
Bad
Bad can describe unfavorable conditions or circumstances.
We have had bad weather all week.
Evil
Evil describes a corrupt presence or force.
There's an evil spirit haunting the house.
Bad
Not achieving an adequate standard; poor
A bad concert.
Evil
Evil implies a deep, inherent wickedness.
His evil intentions were masked by charm.
Bad
Immoral or evil.
Evil
Morally bad or wrong; wicked
An evil tyrant.
Bad
Vulgar or obscene
Bad language.
Evil
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful
The evil effects of a poor diet.
Bad
Disobedient or naughty
Bad children.
Evil
Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous
Evil omens.
Bad
Disagreeable, unpleasant, or disturbing
A bad piece of news.
Evil
Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous
An evil reputation.
Bad
Unfavorable
Bad reviews for the play.
Evil
Characterized by anger or spite; malicious
An evil temper.
Bad
Not fresh; rotten or spoiled
Bad meat.
Evil
The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
Bad
Injurious in effect; detrimental
Bad habits.
Evil
That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction
A leader's power to do both good and evil.
Bad
Not working properly; defective
A bad telephone connection.
Evil
An evil force, power, or personification.
Bad
Full of or exhibiting faults or errors
Bad grammar.
Evil
Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction
The social evils of poverty and injustice.
Bad
Having no validity; void
Passed bad checks.
Evil
In an evil manner.
Bad
Being so far behind in repayment as to be considered a loss
Bad loans.
Evil
Intending to harm; malevolent.
An evil plot to brainwash and even kill innocent people
Bad
Severe; intense
A bad cold.
Evil
Morally corrupt.
If something is evil, it is never mandatory.
Do you think that companies that engage in animal testing are evil?
Bad
Being in poor health or in pain
I feel bad today.
Evil
Unpleasant, foul (of odour, taste, mood, weather, etc.).
Bad
Being in poor condition; diseased
Bad lungs.
Evil
Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity; unpropitious; calamitous.
Bad
Sorry; regretful
She feels bad about how she treated you.
Evil
(obsolete) Having harmful qualities; not good; worthless or deleterious.
An evil beast; an evil plant; an evil crop
Bad
Bad·der, bad·dest Slang Very good; great.
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.
Bad
Something that is below standard or expectations, as of ethics or decency
Weighing the good against the bad.
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.
Bad
Badly.
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.
Bad
A past tense of bid.
Evil
(obsolete) A malady or disease; especially in combination, as in king's evil, colt evil.
Bad
Unfavorable; negative; not good.
Hiring you was very bad for this company.
The weather looks pretty bad right now.
He is in a bad mood.
You have very bad grades.
Evil
(obsolete) wickedly, evilly, iniquitously
Bad
Not suitable or fitting.
Do you think it is a bad idea to confront him directly?
Evil
(obsolete) injuriously, harmfully; in a damaging way.
Bad
Not appropriate, of manners etc.
It is bad manners to talk with your mouth full.
Evil
(obsolete) badly, poorly; in an insufficient way.
It went evil with him.
Bad
Unhealthy; liable to cause health problems.
Lard is bad for you. Smoking is bad for you, too. Grapes are bad for dogs but not for humans.
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.
Bad
(chiefly applied to a person's state of health) Sickly, unhealthy, unwell.
Joe's in a bad way; he can't even get out of bed.
I went to the hospital to see how my grandfather was doing. Unfortunately, he's in a bad state.
I've had a bad back since the accident.
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.
Bad
Not behaving; behaving badly; misbehaving; mischievous or disobedient.
Stop being bad, or you will get a spanking!
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.
Bad
Tricky; stressful; unpleasant.
Divorce is usually a bad experience for everybody involved.
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.
Bad
Evil; wicked.
Be careful. There are bad people in the world.
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.
Bad
Faulty; not functional.
I had a bad headlight.
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.
Bad
(of food) Spoiled, rotten, overripe.
These apples have gone bad.
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.
Bad
(of breath) Malodorous; foul.
Bad breath is not pleasant for anyone.
Evil
Morally objectionable behavior
Bad
False; counterfeit; illegitimate.
They were caught trying to pass bad coinage.
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
Bad
Unskilled; of limited ability; not good.
I'm pretty bad at speaking French.
He's a bad gardener; everything he tries to grow ends up dying.
Evil
The quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice;
Attempts to explain the origin of evil in the world
Bad
Of poor physical appearance.
I look really bad whenever I get less than seven hours of sleep.
I don't look bad in this dress, do I?
Evil
Morally bad or wrong;
Evil purposes
An evil influence
Evil deeds
Bad
(informal) Bold and daring.
Evil
Having the nature of vice
Bad
(slang) Good, superlative, excellent, cool.
Man, that new car you bought is bad!
You is bad, man!
Evil
Tending to cause great harm
Bad
Severe, urgent.
He is in bad need of a haircut.
Evil
Having or exerting a malignant influence;
Malevolent stars
A malefic force
Bad
Overly promiscuous, licentious.
Evil
Evil refers to something that causes harm deliberately.
The evil plot involved betraying his own comrades.
Bad
Very attractive; hot, sexy.
Hopefully I can pull some bad bitches tonight.
Evil
Evil is used for acts or behaviors that are vile and cruel.
The criminal committed an evil deed.
Bad
Not covered by funds on account.
He gave me a bad check.
Bad
Badly.
I didn't do too bad in the last exam.
Bad
Something that is bad; a harm or evil.
Bad
Error; mistake.
Bad
An item (or kind of item) of merchandise with negative value; an unwanted good. Bad (economics)
Bad
Used to scold a misbehaving child or pet.
Bad
(archaic) bid.
Bad
To shell (a walnut).
Bad
Bade.
Bad
Wanting good qualities, whether physical or moral; injurious, hurtful, inconvenient, offensive, painful, unfavorable, or defective, either physically or morally; evil; vicious; wicked; - the opposite of good; as, a bad man; bad conduct; bad habits; bad soil; bad air; bad health; a bad crop; bad news.
The strong antipathy of good to bad.
Bad
That which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency;
Take the bad with the good
Bad
Having undesirable or negative qualities;
A bad report card
His sloppy appearance made a bad impression
A bad little boy
Clothes in bad shape
A bad cut
Bad luck
The news was very bad
The reviews were bad
The pay is bad
It was a bad light for reading
The movie was a bad choice
Bad
Very intense;
A bad headache
In a big rage
Had a big (or bad) shock
A bad earthquake
A bad storm
Bad
Feeling physical discomfort or pain (`tough' is occasionally used colloquially for `bad');
My throat feels bad
She felt bad all over
He was feeling tough after a restless night
Bad
(of foodstuffs) not in an edible or usable condition;
Bad meat
A refrigerator full of spoilt food
Bad
Not capable of being collected;
A bad (or uncollectible) debt
Bad
Below average in quality or performance;
A bad chess player
A bad recital
Bad
Nonstandard;
So-called bad grammar
Bad
Not financially safe or secure;
A bad investment
High risk investments
Anything that promises to pay too much can't help being risky
Speculative business enterprises
Bad
Physically unsound or diseased;
Has a bad back
A bad heart
Bad teeth
An unsound limb
Unsound teeth
Bad
Capable of harming;
Bad habits
Bad air
Smoking is bad for you
Bad
Keenly sorry or regretful;
Felt bad about letting the team down
Was sorry that she had treated him so badly
Felt bad about breaking the vase
Bad
Characterized by wickedness or immorality;
Led a very bad life
Bad
Reproduced fraudulently;
Like a bad penny...
A forged twenty dollar bill
Bad
Not working properly;
A bad telephone connection
A defective appliance
Bad
With great intensity (`bad' is a nonstandard variant for `badly');
The injury hurt badly
The buildings were badly shaken
It hurts bad
We need water bad
Bad
Very much; strongly;
I wanted it badly enough to work hard for it
The cables had sagged badly
They were badly in need of help
He wants a bicycle so bad he can taste it
Bad
Bad indicates poor quality or standard.
The paint job on the car is bad.
Bad
Bad refers to something that causes harm or undesirable consequences.
Ignoring safety protocols is bad.
Bad
Bad denotes something unattractive or not pleasing.
The decor in the room was in bad taste.
FAQs
Is "bad" always related to morality?
No, "bad" can refer to quality, circumstances, or moral wrongs.
Can something bad be morally neutral?
Yes, like bad weather or a bad connection.
Does "evil" imply intent?
Typically, yes, "evil" involves deliberate malevolence or harm.
Is "evil" subjective?
It's more absolute, often agreed upon as profoundly immoral.
Can "bad" describe a mistake?
Yes, it can refer to incorrect actions or decisions.
Is "evil" ever a light accusation?
No, it's a severe moral judgment.
Is "bad" a milder term than "evil"?
Generally, yes, it's less intense and moralistic.
Is ignorance an excuse for "bad" behavior?
Sometimes, but it depends on the context and consequences.
Are people born "evil"?
"Evil" is a complex interplay of factors, not typically inherent from birth.
Does "evil" require premeditation?
Often, it involves intentional, malevolent planning.
Can "evil" exist without action?
It's typically associated with harmful actions or intentions.
Is "evil" always conscious and deliberate?
It usually involves awareness and intent to cause harm.
Can "bad" refer to taste or preference?
Yes, it's often used subjectively in those contexts.
Can an object be "evil"?
Objects aren't evil, but they can be used for evil purposes.
Does "bad" always harm others?
No, it can be self-contained, like a bad habit.
Can "bad" evolve into "evil"?
If negative behavior escalates and becomes malevolent, yes.
Is there redemption for "evil"?
It's debated, but some believe people can change with effort and remorse.
Are "bad" and "evil" interchangeable?
Casually, sometimes, but they have different intensities and implications.
Can a decision be "bad" but not "evil"?
Yes, if it's wrong or harmful but lacks malevolent intent.
Can "bad" change based on culture?
Yes, cultural norms influence what's considered "bad."
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
