vice

fault, failing, frailty, foible, vice mean an imperfection or weakness of character. fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

• • a writer of many virtues and few faults

failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

• • being late is a failing of mine

frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

• • human frailties

foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

• • an eccentric's charming foibles

vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

• • compulsive gambling was his vice

offense, sin, vice, crime, scandal mean a transgression of law. offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

• • at that school no offense went unpunished

sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

• • the sin of blasphemy

vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

• • regarded gambling as a vice

crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

• • the crime of murder

scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

• • a career ruined by a sex scandal