Definitions
- Feeling discontent or resentment towards someone who has something that one desires. - Describing a feeling of jealousy or longing for something that someone else has. - Talking about a desire to possess or achieve something that another person has.
- Describing an excessive desire to possess something that belongs to someone else. - Referring to a strong feeling of greed or avarice towards something that is not rightfully one's own. - Talking about an intense longing or craving for something that is beyond one's reach.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a desire for something that someone else has.
- 2Both words can be negative emotions.
- 3Both words can lead to feelings of discontent or unhappiness.
- 4Both words can be used to describe a longing for material possessions.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Covetousness is a stronger and more intense desire than envy.
- 2Ownership: Covetousness implies a desire for something that belongs to someone else, while envy can refer to a desire for something that one does not have, regardless of who owns it.
- 3Morality: Covetousness has a more negative connotation and is often associated with greed or avarice, while envy can be a more neutral emotion.
- 4Action: Covetousness may lead to actions that are unethical or illegal, while envy is less likely to result in such behavior.
- 5Usage: Covetousness is a less common word than envy and is generally considered more formal or literary.
Remember this!
Envy and covetousness both describe a desire for something that someone else has, but covetousness is a stronger and more intense emotion that implies a desire for something that belongs to someone else. Covetousness has a more negative connotation and is often associated with greed or avarice, while envy can be a more neutral emotion.
