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View synonyms for

vicious

[ vish-uhs ]

adjective

  1. vicious gossip;

    a vicious attack.

    Synonyms:

  2. They all feared his vicious temper.

  3. (of an animal) having bad habits or a cruel or fierce disposition:

    a vicious bull.

  4. unpleasantly severe:

    a vicious headache.

  5. addicted to or characterized by vice; grossly immoral; depraved; profligate:

    a vicious life.

    Synonyms: , , ,

    Antonyms:

  6. given or readily disposed to evil:

    a vicious criminal.

  7. a vicious deception.

  8. characterized or marred by faults or defects; faulty; unsound:

    vicious reasoning.

  9. Archaic. morbid, foul, or noxious.


vicious

/ ˈɪʃə /

adjective

  1. wicked or cruel; villainous

    a vicious thug

  2. characterized by violence or ferocity

    a vicious blow

  3. informal.
    unpleasantly severe; harsh

    a vicious wind

  4. characterized by malice

    vicious lies

  5. (esp of dogs, horses, etc) ferocious or hostile; dangerous
  6. characterized by or leading to vice
  7. invalidated by defects; unsound

    a vicious inference

  8. obsolete.
    noxious or morbid

    a vicious exhalation

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈdzܲԱ, noun
  • ˈdzܲ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • cdzܲ· adverb
  • cdzܲ·Ա noun
  • ܲ·cdzܲ adjective
  • un·cdzܲ· adverb
  • un·cdzܲ·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of vicious1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English or directly from Anglo-French, from Latin پōܲ, equivalent to viti(um) “fault, defect, vice” ( vice 1 ) + -ōܲ -ous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of vicious1

C14: from Old French vicieus, from Latin پōܲ full of faults, from vitium a defect
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Because of threats against him and his family from Barrio 18, a vicious Salvadoran gang, Abrego García had fled that country as a young teenager.

From

“The Art of Personal Chaos” is Gaga’s answer to the loud, vicious barrage of garbage we’ve been flooded with.

From

"This senseless violence had tragic consequences and our thoughts remain with Steven's family and friends who have also suffered immensely because of Pearson's vicious actions."

From

The resulting foreign exchange shortages led to even tighter import controls, creating a vicious cycle that stifled growth.

From

Some of the freed hostages have openly accused the Israeli government of betrayal and abandonment and, in some cases, they have drawn vicious online threats for their comments.

From

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vicinityvicious circle