vice

Definition of vicenext
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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 protests began in late December amid widespread anger over economic hardship, political repression and corruption, according to reports.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Yoon himself, as a prosecutor, helped bring down former President Park Geun-hye, who was imprisoned for corruption and abuse of power.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Together, the cases highlight weaknesses in an industry that has long struggled to balance nutritional innovation with safety.
    Jillian Deutsch, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • In signing Díaz and Tucker, Los Angeles addressed two areas of weakness by throwing money at the top option on the market.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Near large mines, the prostitution of women and young girls was pervasive.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
  • The two cousins also operated an outcall prostitution service.
    Kelsey Lentz, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The nation was to be purged of continual sin not indeed all of its own doing—due partly to its inheritance; and yet a sin, a negation that gave the world the right to sneer at the pretensions of this republic.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Whatever your preconceived notions about Feldman are, Hume’s film will expand and challenge them; the movie’s greatness lies in its ability to capture all of Feldman’s contradictions and self-destructiveness, empathizing with him without soft-pedaling his sins.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Paul Craney wasn’t having it, saying high utility bills in Massachusetts are the fault of Healey’s policies and the state’s NetZero by 2050 climate mandate, which favors solar, wind and battery power over natural gas.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Scientists think this white oil originated deep within the earth, traveled along the San Gabriel fault zone and was filtered through several layers of sediment.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • An outmoded concept, evil was baggage from a pre-modern age, the least useful way to interpret bad behavior.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
  • These necessary evils drain your creative energy.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Painfully aware of his shortcomings, Wallace would have been horrified by his own subsequent beatification.
    Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Hollyland says the Lyra directly addresses these shortcomings with three major technological breakthroughs that set a new benchmark for high-performance webcams at a sensible price point.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • One celebrates the beauty and moral uplift of the Sabbath; the other denounces the immorality of the godless in the fiery manner of a tent-revival preacher.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
  • Advised by Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, who sincerely believed in the Reformation, Henry started with accusations of corruption and immorality in the Church, then used intimidation and changes to the law to transfer all the wealth and land to himself.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Oct. 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 29 Jan. 2026.

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