vice

noun

ˈvīs How to pronounce vice (audio)
Definition of vicenext
1
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society that section of the city is legendary for crime and vice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weakness
a defect in character curiosity in children is not a vice, but something to be encouraged

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
  1. corruption
  2. weakness
  3. prostitution
  4. sin
  5. fault
  6. evil
  7. shortcoming
  8. immorality
Noun
  • But the judge also noted Krneta’s dual role in facilitating the corruption of Tobolski, both paying bribes and collecting extortion payments from other contractors on the then-mayor’s behalf.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The election demanded by Reform UK's leader, who faces corruption accusations, has turned into a punch line after major parties dismissed it as a stunt and declined to field candidates.
    — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of corruption
Noun
  • If a bear market arrives shortly after retirement, a cash reserve can allow a family to meet expenses without immediately selling long-term investments into weakness.
    — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
  • To be sure, efforts to prop up the yen were seen as short-term measures to address the symptoms rather than the root causes of the currency’s weakness.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakness
Noun
  • Combs is serving a 50-month prison sentence for his conviction in July 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Combs, currently serving a 50-month prison sentence on prostitution charges, has frequently denied playing a part in Shakur’s death.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of prostitution
Noun
  • Fans of improv, musicals and audience participation will thoroughly enjoy this performance and should be prepared to repent for sins like eating a hamburger, owning too many snakes or yearning for a younger man.
    — Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Where death’s grey skies loom large, the 2000s are portrayed in silvery black and white while ancient action takes place in vibrant colors, with Dante’s tale of sin and justice rolled into one story.
    — A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of sin
Noun
  • Of the defendants, Cesar Morales was apportioned 60% of the fault, Arnold Morales 20% of the fault, Alvarez 5% of the fault and Harrison 15% of the fault.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • And yet, there’s a halo of chaos that surrounds Rhaenyra — an electric current of turmoil that’s too constant not to be her fault.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of fault
Noun
  • But for Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), the local personalities pale in comparison to the evils lurking beneath the cursed island’s surface.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Venom dunking Who would win in a basketball game, Spider-Man or his evil doppelgänger Venom?
    — Owen Carry, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of evil
Noun
  • While the Endangered Species Act has shortcomings, once these changes go into effect next month, even fewer protections will exist, Boyles said.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • This is a player that remains at the peak of his powers, and while Barça doesn’t have the shortcomings Real Madrid does in midfield following the departures of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, any team would be foolish to turn Rodri down.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of shortcoming
Noun
  • Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).
    — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Definition of immorality
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.

Browse Nearby Words

vicars
vice
vice admiral
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vice. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on vice

Nglish: Translation of vice for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All