vice

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as in prostitution
the practice of engaging in sexual activities for money a seedy section of the city where vice is rampant and very much out in the open

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun vice contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vice are crime, offense, scandal, and sin. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

When would crime be a good substitute for vice?

The meanings of crime and vice largely overlap; however, crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When is it sensible to use offense instead of vice?

While in some cases nearly identical to vice, offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

When could scandal be used to replace vice?

The words scandal and vice can be used in similar contexts, but scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

In what contexts can sin take the place of vice?

In some situations, the words sin and vice are roughly equivalent. However, sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vice
Noun
  • Ken Paxton, who has served in his current role since 2015, was impeached in 2023 but later acquitted and faced allegations of corruption and taking part in an extramarital affair.
    Julia Manchester, The Hill, 11 July 2025
  • The announcement comes nearly two years after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment related to allegations of corruption and abuse of office.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in my responses and give me tips for responding with a problem-solving, curious mindset next time.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The currency pair is expected to swing both ways as the Taiwan dollar gets caught between speculation of central bank intervention and weakness in the greenback, Lim added.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • The men face charges of solicitation of prostitution, a felony in Texas punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
    Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 5 Apr. 2023
  • Street prostitution has been an issue on Capp Street in the Mission District for decades.
    Fifth & Mission Podcast, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Feb. 2023
Noun
  • As a result, anyone who sought treatment for a physical illness at St. Leonard’s Hospital first had to confess their sins and have their soul cleansed.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
  • The Lorde’s Virgin birth came on June 27, and it was born with sin.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • But these apocalyptic conditions aren’t the fault of a nearby black hole.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2025
  • Waymo vehicles have not been found at fault for a major collision resulting in injury or death and are now deployed in major cities including Austin, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
    Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • The motive can be summarized as pure agency, pure evil; in other words, premeditated murder.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 2025
  • Andy, once a centuries-old immortal who has now lost her healing powers, must race across continents to recover her magic, all the while facing deadly mercenaries and ancient evils.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Noun
  • There’s no shortage of online debate over the relative worth of pet insurance, with consumers routinely trading notes on Reddit and elsewhere about rising premium costs, unexpected cancellations and other common shortcomings.
    Evie Steele, NBC news, 9 July 2025
  • The Blackhawks haven’t done the best job supporting Bedard in Chicago, which has amplified some of his shortcomings.
    Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • In a Code world, no film should risk lowering an audience’s moral standards nor should evil or immorality be presented except as a cautionary tale.
    Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025
  • Omari’s father, Hassan (J. Paul Nicholas), is the conservative Muslim governor of Mombasa, fond of attacking the immorality in nightclubs like the Moto Moto, where most of Goddess is set, though he’s withdrawn from his reelection campaign after an illness.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Vice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vice. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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