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
  • The Boston City Council will take up a resolution this week that calls for disgraced Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson’s removal from the body in the wake of her guilty plea to two federal corruption charges tied to a City Hall kickback scheme.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 13 May 2025
  • However, rumors swirled about his luxury lifestyle and possible corruption and eventually led to federal charges in 2007.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • With a newfound sense of self, Murderbot is forced to hide its disgust for human weakness and emotion.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 16 May 2025
  • Proton Mail encourages you to save a recovery key in the form of a lengthy code and a QR code, but that recovery key itself now becomes a weakness.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 14 May 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
  • Harrison’s sin is not trading Doncic, but demanding so little in return from the Lakers.
    Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025
  • If Sam is wrong, his journalistic sin is unpardonable.
    Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Rand argues that the studios are at fault, and that giving them more taxpayer money is not the answer.
    Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 May 2025
  • The self-healing capability would enable the grid quickly to isolate and repair faults, reduce the time needed to restore power after outages, and prevent blackouts—reducing the impacts of energy disruptions.
    Deborah Wince-Smith, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Nature, light, darkness, mundane rituals, violence, ambiguity, and evil, in such forms as death, tribalism, and xenophobia.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
  • Two Prosecutors follows in that tradition, being a very slow and very talky chamber piece that could be the most terrifying comedy that Aki Kaurismäki never made, or a Chaplin-esque horror film about the evils of bureaucracy in a world ruled by morons.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Like at Philippe’s, the sandwich ($23) requires a few dips in the cup of jus to hide a multitude of shortcomings.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
  • But the shortcomings of the air traffic control system have been known for decades.
    Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The film cares more for Romy’s enveloping sense of self than the depths of her immorality.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
  • During the mid-credits scene, there are several reflections on Sammie’s life as a young man, plus a tempting offer from the vampires to give the elderly bluesman immorality.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 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 24 May. 2025.

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