vicious

Examples

• All

• I mean, this is the most vicious kind of ideological capture.

  andrew gold | heretics.

• The peaceful leader of this country has asked me to appeal to you, Mr. President to stop your vicious, imperialistic tactics around the globe.

  Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)

• Oh, oh, God, she is a vicious, vicious lady.

  cari can read

• Oh, you vicious, vicious man!

  EverAfter (1998)

• And now I saw that I had transferred these vicious feelings to my sons.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Dr Jones, we're all vulnerable to vicious rumours.

  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

• The difficulty is that a vicious circle exists between these goals and the goal of economic development.

  Academic text (1992)

• There was something menacing in the voice, something vicious in his expression barely concealed.

  Fiction book (1999)

• She needs to sound like the most vicious creature you've ever encountered.

• He received strong criticism for his vicious comments about the minority group.

Synonyms

E

evil

vsvicious

∞ 1.2

Being very bad and morally wrong, often causing harm to others

focuses more on blame and wrongness that deserves criticism

C

cruel

vsvicious

474 2.7

Willing to cause pain or suffering to others

is broader, condemning moral wrongness beyond intentional harm

H

harsh

vsvicious

296 2.8

Unkind and too strict in what someone says or does to others

is moral condemnation, not merely strictness or lack of gentleness

B

brutal

vsvicious

• NSFW

230 4.8

Very cruel and violent, causing pain or suffering

is a moral judgement about wrongness, not only physical violence

R

ruthless

vsvicious

142 4.9

Not feeling sorry for others and hurting them on purpose

targets moral blame for wrongdoing rather than mere absence of pity

U

ugly

vsvicious

113 4.9

Very bad or offensive in a moral way

is focused on moral blame and deserving strong criticism rather than offence

W

wicked

vsvicious

112 4.6

A person or action that is very bad and cruel

emphasizes blame and deserving strong criticism rather than simple moral badness

M

malicious

vsvicious

83 5.8

Wanting to hurt someone or damage their good name

is broader, condemning moral wrongs beyond harmful intent

D

demonic

vsvicious

70 8.1

Extremely evil and cruel, as if caused by the devil

does not imply supernatural cause, focusing on moral wrongness

W

wretched

vsvicious

• Offensive

44 7.1

Very bad in a moral way and deserving strong blame

is broader, covering wrong actions that may not reach severe contempt

R

reprehensible

vsvicious

• Formal

44 7.9

Morally wrong and deserving strong criticism

also points to moral wrongness beyond just being blameworthy

D

deplorable

vsvicious

34 6.8

Very bad and unacceptable, deserving strong criticism

highlights moral wrongness and blame rather than mere shock

C

criminal

vsvicious

33 3.7

Very wrong and deserving strong blame

focuses on moral badness and blame rather than legal status only

O

odious

vsvicious

• Formal

19 8.2

Very unpleasant and likely to make people feel strong dislike

adds moral blame and deserving condemnation beyond mere unpleasantness

F

fiendish

vsvicious

10 7.9

Being very cruel and evil and making others suffer

is used for moral blame but not only for extreme cruelty

V

venomous

vsvicious

8 6.3

Showing strong hate and wanting to hurt someone

is a general moral condemnation, not limited to spite or hate

L

lowdown

vsvicious

• Offensive

4 7.4

Mean and unfair in a way that hurts others

is stronger, condemning deep moral badness rather than mere unfairness

C

condemnable

vsvicious

1 7.5

Deserving strong criticism for being wrong

adds a sense of moral wrongdoing rather than only public disapproval

M

meanspirited

vsvicious

• Offensive

1 7.4

Unkind and petty in a way that hurts other people

denounces serious moral wrongs rather than mere pettiness

V

venomed

vsvicious

1 9.5

Showing strong hate and trying to hurt someone

is broader, condemning moral wrongs beyond malicious words or acts

F

flagitious

vsvicious

• Archaic

1 9.9

A very wicked and criminal act that shocks people

is less extreme, covering wrong acts that still deserve criticism

V

viperous

vsvicious

• Literature

1 9.2

Being cruel and speaking sharp words like a poisonous snake

targets moral badness generally rather than specifically treachery

V

viperish

vsvicious

• Literature

1 8.6

Being mean and trying to hurt people in a secret, sneaky way

is a broader moral judgement rather than only treachery or spite

Antonyms

G

good

∞ 1.0

Behaving in a kind and honest way

V

virtuous

23 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

Compounds

V

vicious cycle

19 4.8

A situation where one problem causes another and makes things worse

V

vicious circle

8 3.9

A situation where one problem causes another and makes the first problem worse

How Wicked

evil

960 3.0

wicked

112 4.6

vicious

20 4.9

immoral

131 4.6

wrong

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology