wicked
WIHK-ihd
Wicked (adj) means Morally bad; evil or cruel. Example: “In the fairy tale, a wicked witch locks the princess in a tower.”
adj
1
Morally bad; evil or cruel.
"In the fairy tale, a wicked witch locks the princess in a tower."
"The story's villain was a truly wicked queen."
"It was a wicked thing to say to a child."
2
Harsh, severe, or unpleasant.
"A wicked wind blew across the hills and chilled us to the bone."
"There's a wicked chill in the air tonight."
"He's got a wicked temper when things go wrong."
3
(informal) Excellent or impressive.
"Her new bike looks wicked, and it goes really fast."
"That's a wicked guitar solo."
"We had a wicked time at the festival."
How to use wicked
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually means evil or severe, but in casual speech (especially British and New England slang) it can flip to mean "great".
When to use it
The "excellent" sense is informal slang; the "evil" sense is standard in all registers.
Common pairings
wicked sense of humour
wicked stepmother
wicked witch
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Word forms
- Plural
- the wicked
- Comparative
- wickeder, more wicked
- Superlative
- wickedest, most wicked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the fairy tale, a _____ witch locks the princess in a tower.
Etymology
From Middle English wikke ("morally bad"), of uncertain origin, possibly linked to an old word for a sorcerer.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wicked
See all rhymes for 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.
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