What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Compassion vs Envy - What's the difference?

compassion | envy |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between compassion and envy

is that compassion is (obsolete) to pity while envy is (obsolete) to emulate.

As nouns the difference between compassion and envy

is that compassion is deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it while envy is resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).

As verbs the difference between compassion and envy

is that compassion is (obsolete) to pity while envy is to feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.

compassion

English

Noun

  • Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it
  • * 1849 , Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)
  • Oh! the unspeakable privilege to have Him for our Father, who is the Father of mercies and compassions , and those not barren, fruitless pityings, for He is withal the God of all consolations.

    Synonyms

    * empathy, pity, ruth, tenderheartedness, sorrow * kindness, heart, mercy

    Derived terms

    * compassionate * compassion fatigue

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To pity.
  • * 1607 , , IV. i. 124:
  • O heavens, can you hear a good man groan / And not relent, or not compassion him?

    envy

    English

    Noun

  • Resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:No bliss enjoyed by us excites his envy more.
  • *(Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
  • *:Envy , to which the ignoble mind's a slave, / Is emulation in the learned or brave.
  • *
  • *:Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence. She devoured with more avidity than she had her food those pretentiously phrased chronicles of the snobocracydistilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon of all its savour.
  • *1983 , (Stanley Rosen), Plato’s Sophist , p.66:
  • *:Theodorus assures Socrates that no envy will prevent the Stranger from responding
  • An object of envious notice or feeling.
  • * (1800-1859)
  • *:This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world.
  • (lb) Hatred, enmity, ill-feeling.
  • *:
  • *:Syre said la?celot vnto Arthur by this crye that ye haue made ye wyll put vs that ben aboute yow in grete Ieopardy / for there be many Knyghtes that haue grete enuye to vs / therfore whan we shal mete at the daye of Iustes there wille be hard skyfte amonge vs
  • *1598 , (William Shakespeare), :
  • *:But let me tell the World, / If he out-liue the enuie of this day, / England did neuer owe so sweet a hope, / So much misconstrued in his Wantonnesse.
  • (lb) Emulation; rivalry.
  • * (1586-c.1639)
  • *:Such as cleanliness and decency / Prompt to a virtuous envy .
  • (lb) Public odium; ill repute.
  • *(Ben Jonson) (1572-1637)
  • *:to lay the envy of the war upon Cicero
  • Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.
  • (obsolete) To have envious feelings (at).
  • *, II.3.3:
  • I do not envy at their wealth, titles, offices;let me live quiet and at ease.
  • *Jeremy Taylor:
  • Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked?
  • (obsolete) To give (something) to (someone) grudgingly or reluctantly; to begrudge.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , III.v:
  • But that sweet Cordiall, which can restore / A loue-sick hart, she did to him enuy  […].
  • (obsolete) To show malice or ill will; to rail.
  • *Shakespeare:
  • He hasenvied against the people.
  • (obsolete) To do harm to; to injure; to disparage.
  • * J. Fletcher
  • If I make a lie / To gain your love and envy my best mistress, / Put me against a wall.
  • (obsolete) To hate.
  • (Marlowe)
  • (obsolete) To emulate.
  • (Spenser)