Antonyms for Virtue: Opposite Words

Updated 2026-10-12 · Synonyms List editorial team

Quick answer: The true opposites of virtue are words that represent moral corruption or a lack of ethical goodness. While no single English word captures the exact reverse of moral excellence, terms like vice, wickedness, and depravity serve as the standard antonyms. These words describe behaviors that are harmful, selfish, or contrary to accepted standards of right conduct, effectively acting as the moral inverse of virtue in any context.

Direct Opposites of Virtue

vice: This is the most direct opposite, representing a habitual bad action. She struggled against the vice of greed that drove her decisions.
wickedness: This implies malicious intent rather than just bad habits. The wickedness of the plot surprised everyone attending the play.
depravity: This suggests extreme corruption of moral standards. The story depicted the depravity of the characters without remorse.
immorality: This refers to the state of violating moral rules. His immorality became clear after the scandal broke.
corruption: This often implies bribery or dishonesty in power. The corruption within the office led to many resignations.
vileness: This describes something or someone of low moral value. He showed no vileness despite the cruel accusations against him.
sinfulness: This focuses on religious or spiritual wrongdoings. Her sinfulness was evident in her constant lies.
evil: This is a broad term for morally bad behavior. The villain was known for his pure evil nature.
wrongdoing: This covers any act that is legally or morally incorrect. The investigation focused on the specific wrongdoing.
badness: This is a general term for the quality of being morally wrong. The book explores the badness of human choices.

Milder Opposites of Virtue

folly: This suggests foolishness rather than deep moral evil. His folly led him to make a terrible financial mistake.
impropriety: This refers to behavior that is socially awkward or wrong. The impropriety of his comments caused an awkward silence.
defect: This indicates a flaw in character or quality. The defect in his personality made him difficult to trust.
injustice: This focuses on unfairness rather than personal wickedness. The injustice of the situation upset the whole community.
irresponsibility: This describes a lack of duty or care for others. Her irresponsibility hurt many people who relied on her.
indifference: This implies a lack of moral concern for suffering. His indifference to the cry for help was shocking.
cowardice: This is a specific moral failure regarding fear. The cowardice shown during the crisis was widely criticized.
weakness: This suggests a lack of moral strength or resolve. His weakness prevented him from standing up for what was right.

Formal Antonyms for Virtue

iniquity: A rare but formal word meaning great wickedness. The poem spoke of the iniquity of the age.
abomination: Used to describe something detestable to the moral law. He called the act an abomination to the law.
indecency: A formal opposite of virtue regarding behavior that violates social norms of respect, such as the indecency of rudeness hurts feelings.

Best Opposite by Situation

in an essay: Use vice or immorality for academic contexts. The essay compared the concept of virtue to its opposite, vice.
talking about people: Use wickedness or evil for character descriptions. People often mistake kindness for weakness, ignoring the evil within.
describing actions: Use wrongdoing or impropriety for specific deeds. The list of wrongdoing was too long to count quickly.
in a legal setting: Use corruption or immorality for official records. The lawyer argued that the charge was an immorality.
in literature: Use depravity or iniquity for dramatic effect. The author chose to highlight the depravity of the villain.
in casual speech: Use badness or wrongness for everyday conversation. It was just plain badness to treat friends that way.

Example Sentences With the Opposites

The vice of lying to friends broke the trust of the group.
Her wickedness was evident when she betrayed the family.
The depravity of the situation left everyone in shock.
His immorality was the reason he lost the job.
The corruption in the building required a complete overhaul.
The vileness of the act was hard to believe.
Her sinfulness was a burden to the community.
The evil of the plan was discussed in secret meetings.
The folly of the decision cost them their savings.
The impropriety of the meeting caused a scandal.
The defect in his character was obvious to all.
The injustice of the verdict upset the jury.
Her irresponsibility ruined the project for everyone.

How to Choose the Right Opposite

Select the antonym based on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey, as virtue has many aspects. Use direct words like vice or wickedness for clear moral contrasts, while softer terms like folly or impropriety suit situations where the fault is minor or social rather than deeply evil. Formal contexts demand precise vocabulary such as depravity or iniquity to maintain a serious tone, whereas casual conversation allows for simpler words like badness or wrongness. Always ensure the opposite fits the gravity of the situation, avoiding terms that are too strong for a minor mistake or too weak for a serious crime.