vicious

adjective

ˈvi-shəs How to pronounce vicious (audio)
Definition of viciousnext
1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect a vicious winter storm ripped through the region

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2
as in brutal
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others she made a vicious effort to destroy the lives of the people who had wronged her

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3
as in unlawful
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable a truly vicious person detested by almost everyone

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4
as in savage
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition a vicious dog that has already bitten several people

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5
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it he spread vicious rumors about his ex-wife after their bitter divorce

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vicious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vicious are corrupt, degenerate, iniquitous, nefarious, and villainous. While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

Where would corrupt be a reasonable alternative to vicious?

The synonyms corrupt and vicious are sometimes interchangeable, but corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

In what contexts can degenerate take the place of vicious?

The words degenerate and vicious can be used in similar contexts, but degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

When could iniquitous be used to replace vicious?

While in some cases nearly identical to vicious, iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

When can nefarious be used instead of vicious?

In some situations, the words nefarious and vicious are roughly equivalent. However, nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

When is it sensible to use villainous instead of vicious?

Although the words villainous and vicious have much in common, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vicious Unfortunately, this anxiety around data can become a vicious loop, Kaston D. Anderson Jr., PhD, MPH, an associate professor of psychology at Michigan State University, told Health. —Korin Miller, Health, 13 Feb. 2025 Nashville's Bad Idea is a wine bar and restaurant set in a former Presbyterian church that fell into disrepair after a vicious tornado. —USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025 By the time Hezbollah launched its bombardment of Israel in solidarity with Hamas' vicious attack on Israel, the militant Lebanese organization had managed to build a significant military capability under the nose of UNFIL and was more robust than ever before. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025 Speculation swirled around another possible nod to Lamar's vicious beef with Drizzy, one not in the music itself. —Jason Lamphier, EW.com, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious
  1. intense
  2. brutal
  3. unlawful
  4. savage
  5. malicious
  6. intensive
  7. cruel
  8. evil
Adjective
  • The intense gravitational pull from the black hole rips the two stars apart, capturing one star into a close orbit around it, notes the center.
    — Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • This film transitions between moments of intense governmental and political drama, and moments of sympathetic, emotional anguish with the Hernandez family.
    — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • England’s Champions Trophy campaign finally came to a brutal end when they were beaten by South Africa in Karachi by seven wickets with almost 21 overs to spare.
    — Tim Ellis, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The free chow was served daily, except on Fridays, and continued through a brutal period of industrywide cost-cutting that persists to this day.
    — Katcy Stephan, Variety, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of brutal
Adjective
  • Alsup’s order is a temporary measure that requires OPM to notify agencies that its directive was unlawful.
    — Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Their actions have sparked numerous lawsuits, and on Thursday, a federal judge in California found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful.
    — Kristin Brown, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of unlawful
Adjective
  • As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.
    — Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2022
  • The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2022
Definition of savage
Adjective
  • As the technology behind deepfakes advances, the need to fight their malicious usage has never been greater.
    — Rohan Pinto, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Now, Microsoft has identified a resurfaced malware that has returned after years, equipped with new malicious capabilities, including stealing sensitive information such as digital wallets and data from the legitimate Notes app.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • The tool is designed for people who do intensive knowledge work in areas like finance, science, policy, and engineering.
    — Gene Marks, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The episode, written by Dan Erickson and Mark Friedman and directed by Jessica Lee Gagné, feels almost made with Reddit in mind, filled with images and Easter Eggs that demand intensive screenshot analysis.
    — Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • As mere surrogates, the Trump-DeSantis fight to outdo each other through mean and cruel policies will go on.
    — Letters to the Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Immigration advocates call the crackdown cruel and wrongheaded and warn that many Latino U.S. citizens will likely suffer violations of their civil rights and possibly even get mistakenly deported.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • Hot on the trail of a new brood of evil Mogwai, our heroes journey deep into the American West, coming up against new supernatural creatures and picking up a few mysterious characters along the way.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Fans have long waited to see how the show, produced by Skybound Entertainment, adapts this massive event from Kirkman's comics, which sees Angstrom (Sterling K. Brown) assemble an army of evil Marks from alternate dimensions to lay siege to Earth.
    — Nick Romano, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of evil

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Cite this Entry

“Vicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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