vicious
VIH-shuhs
Vicious (adj) means Deliberately cruel, violent, or savage. Example: “The dog launched a vicious attack on the mail carrier.”
adj
1
Deliberately cruel, violent, or savage.
"The dog launched a vicious attack on the mail carrier."
"She was the target of a vicious rumour campaign."
"He made a vicious remark about her cooking that left everyone silent."
How to use vicious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCruel and aggressive, often violently so.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "viscous," which describes a thick, sticky liquid — the words are unrelated despite the similar spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
vicious attack
vicious cycle
vicious rumour
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more vicious, viciouser
- Superlative
- most vicious, viciousest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog launched a _____ attack on the mail carrier.
Etymology
From Latin vitiosus, "faulty, corrupt," from vitium, "fault, vice."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for vicious
See all rhymes for vicious →Frequently asked questions
What does “vicious” mean?
The word “vicious” means deliberately cruel, violent, or savage. In plain terms, cruel and aggressive, often violently so.
How do you pronounce “vicious”?
“Vicious” is pronounced VIH-shuhs (/ˈvɪʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “vicious” in a sentence?
Here is “vicious” used in a sentence: “The dog launched a vicious attack on the mail carrier.”
What is another word for “vicious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vicious” include scathy.
What part of speech is “vicious”?
“Vicious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “vicious” come from?
The word “vicious” comes from Latin. From Latin vitiosus, "faulty, corrupt," from vitium, "fault, vice.".
Is “vicious” a common word?
“Vicious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between 'vicious' and 'violent'?
'Violent' describes physical force or aggression in general, while 'vicious' adds a sense of deliberate cruelty or savagery to that behavior. A vicious act is not just forceful but intentionally brutal or malicious.
Can 'vicious' be used for things other than attacks, like rumors or cycles?
Yes, 'vicious' commonly describes non-physical things that are cruel or harmful, such as a vicious rumor, a vicious insult, or a vicious cycle. In these uses it still carries the core idea of deliberate cruelty or destructiveness.
What is a 'vicious circle' or 'vicious cycle'?
A vicious circle (or cycle) is a situation where one problem causes another problem, which in turn makes the first problem worse, repeating endlessly. The word 'vicious' here reflects how harmful and self-perpetuating the pattern is.
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