wicked
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for wicked, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Morally bad; evil or cruel.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use wicked
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
wicked sense of humour
wicked stepmother
wicked witch
The "excellent" sense is informal slang; the "evil" sense is standard in all registers.
Etymology
From Middle English wikke ("morally bad"), of uncertain origin, possibly linked to an old word for a sorcerer.
Full origin of wicked →Frequently asked questions
What does “wicked” mean?
The word “wicked” means morally bad; evil or cruel. In plain terms, usually means evil or severe, but in casual speech (especially British and New England slang) it can flip to mean "great".
How do you pronounce “wicked”?
“Wicked” is pronounced WIHK-ihd (/ˈwɪk.ɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “wicked” in a sentence?
Here is “wicked” used in a sentence: “The story's villain was a truly wicked queen.”
What part of speech is “wicked”?
“Wicked” is an adjective.
Where does the word “wicked” come from?
The word “wicked” comes from Middle English. From Middle English wikke ("morally bad"), of uncertain origin, possibly linked to an old word for a sorcerer.
Is “wicked” a common word?
“Wicked” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “wicked” have?
“Wicked” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: morally bad; evil or cruel.
How can wicked mean both evil and excellent?
The core meaning of wicked is morally bad, evil, or cruel, but in informal slang it flips to mean excellent or impressive, as in 'that concert was wicked.' Context and tone make the intended sense clear: serious or formal writing almost always uses the 'evil' meaning, while the positive sense belongs to casual speech.
What is the difference between wicked and evil?
Both words describe moral badness, but evil is usually stronger and more absolute, suggesting profound immorality. Wicked can be somewhat lighter, and it is also used of harsh or unpleasant things, as in 'a wicked wind' or 'a wicked headache,' where no real evil is implied.
What is the difference between wicked and naughty?
Naughty describes mild misbehaviour, especially in children, while wicked in its standard sense means genuinely morally bad, evil, or cruel. Calling someone wicked is a serious moral judgement; calling them naughty rarely is.
