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
  • Miami’s corruption keeps us from solving our issues.
    Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The section that investigates public corruption has been gutted, while the bureau's premier public corruption unit has been disbanded.
    Elena Moore, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • However, the effects on hiring may be blunted by persistent weakness in the labor market.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
  • JPMorgan adds SharkNinja to the focus list JPM said investors should buy the weakness in the consumer products company.
    Michael Bloom, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The rapper and businessman has been taking jabs at Combs — whom he's been feuding with since the mid-2000s — since Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in July.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Combs was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday after being found guilty of two felony counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The brothers grew up in a household ruled by their mother’s preachings about the sins of lust and carnal desire, per the outlet, which also reports that their father was an alcoholic.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • This also ensures the bacon drippings don’t go to waste, which is a serious Southern sin.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The bank admitted fault in only 13 out of the 101 cases tracked by the organization, with the remaining 88 cases settled without admission of guilt.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The most commonly believed false narrative was that the reliance on renewables was at fault.
    Julia Simon, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But this is no case study in the evils of devil-worshipping musicians.
    Judy Berman, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
  • On this Sunday, a day meant for worship and peace, such violence is a grave evil.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The difference is that IMAX 70mm prints are created as optical blow-ups from the VistaVision negative — a difference that intellectually sounds like a shortcoming, but which had a positive effect on the movie’s overall emotional impact.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Now, Clippy’s former shortcomings are the exact reason for its resurgence.
    Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Hank isn’t being accused of mere immorality, after all; he’s being accused of rape, which was also a crime back in Kierkegaard’s days.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Beyond the inherent immorality of thoughtlessly torturing and killing birds and wildlife, Death Pipes are an example of the hidden toll that people and their structures are exacting on nature.
    GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 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 12 Oct. 2025.

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