1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a vicious winter storm ripped through the region
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vicious
There are very few hints in art of dogs being dirty, vicious or rabid.
—
Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Notable among them is a high-speed chase in which Margaret and Daniel jump from a car to a moving train as Scanlon’s vicious head of security Boyd (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) pursues and tries to kill them.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
While the administration spins the myth of vicious criminals victimizing American citizens, the past months have revealed the truth.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026
The clip, which starts from Scooby's view, teases something absolutely vicious.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for vicious
Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
Notable among them is a high-speed chase in which Margaret and Daniel jump from a car to a moving train as Scanlon’s vicious head of security Boyd (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) pursues and tries to kill them.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
While the administration spins the myth of vicious criminals victimizing American citizens, the past months have revealed the truth.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2026
The clip, which starts from Scooby's view, teases something absolutely vicious.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for vicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious
Adjective
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Thanks to more than 200 years of intense and virtuoso scientific work, what were once valid or at least plausible concerns and objections to vaccines have been overcome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Whether Tuchel will, in fact, be able to produce a more intense high-pressing style this summer, given the climate and the dense schedule, is another matter.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Nichols, 64, was sentenced to death for the brutal beating and rape of 20-year-old Karen Pulley.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
11 Dec. 2025
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Bianchi and the others were marched up the peninsula to POW camps in the north under brutal conditions in a 65-mile trek infamously known as the Bataan Death March.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Their primary mission is to enforce immigration laws, prevent unlawful entry into the country and investigate smuggling or trafficking.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Dec. 2025
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The Cup teams sued NASCAR in October 2024 on the grounds that the private company was an unlawful monopoly — one that used anti-competitive practices to strengthen itself and weaken the teams.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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What begins as a desperate family bonding trip rapidly devolves into savage violence and brutal psychological warfare.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
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Their twiggy legs and bony frames exposed in bathing suits, the kids do indeed look extra vulnerable within the film’s savage landscape.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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The malicious prosecution claim was dismissed after Levine’s attorneys failed to object to a motion for summary judgment to dismiss the final charge.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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The Knicks also got their revenge on Wembanyama, who went unpenalized for a malicious, above-the-shoulders shove on Brunson in Game 3.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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These data centers would leverage the cold temperatures of space to remove the need for energy-intensive cooling systems on Earth.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Dec. 2025
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After an intensive chemical treatment program, Drews said, the area now has 70 percent less of the invasive vine.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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But nothing would have prepared him for this — the death of a beloved first-team player, and in such arbitrary, cruel circumstances.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
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They were joined by actors playing the contestants, who lurched along wearing expressions of exaggerated horror, as though the cruel stakes of the game had just been revealed to them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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It has not been confirmed whether The Legend of Zelda movie will be based on a single game from the franchise or inspired by the overall story of Link saving Princess Zelda and the land of Hyrule from the evil sorcerer Ganon.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
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There are hints of nuclear incident, climate collapse, AI run amok — all filtered through the narrow perspective of a survivor’s diary written in a convent where evil nuns hold sway over the worthy and unworthy alike.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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