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as in unlawful
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable a truly vicious person detested by almost everyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective vicious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vicious are corrupt, degenerate, iniquitous, nefarious, and villainous. While all these words mean "highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct," vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence.

a vicious gangster

Where would corrupt be a reasonable alternative to vicious?

The synonyms corrupt and vicious are sometimes interchangeable, but corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations.

city hall was rife with corrupt politicians

In what contexts can degenerate take the place of vicious?

The words degenerate and vicious can be used in similar contexts, but degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.

a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers

When could iniquitous be used to replace vicious?

While in some cases nearly identical to vicious, iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness.

an iniquitous system of taxation

When can nefarious be used instead of vicious?

In some situations, the words nefarious and vicious are roughly equivalent. However, nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct.

the nefarious rackets of organized crime

When is it sensible to use villainous instead of vicious?

Although the words villainous and vicious have much in common, villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic.

a villainous assault

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of vicious The going hypothesis is that metabolic problems kick off a vicious immunometabolic cycle. Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025 These criminals are taking the side of vicious cartels and human traffickers. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025 Sandhagen dispatched Edgar with a vicious flying knee 28 seconds into that bout. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025 The vicious crime wasn’t a brazen robbery or politically motivated attack. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for vicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious
Adjective
  • During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2025
  • Healthy people can still experience short-term symptoms like fever, intense headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Yankees’ brutal offensive malaise stretched past a point anybody could have foreseen with a 1-0, 11-inning loss Monday night.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • Late-stage valuations are inflating again, even as early-stage founders face a brutal fundraising climate.
    Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • She was convicted in 1995 on nine charges, including conspiracy to remove body parts and unlawful authorization of the removal of eyes, hearts, lungs and brains from corpses.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 16 June 2025
  • Nonetheless, this latest ruling may embolden such plaintiffs in California and elsewhere to assert unlawful discrimination claims with greater confidence and, perhaps, greater frequency.
    Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • As savage Arctic cold was getting ready to surge south across North America, vivid imagery based on data from weather models showed us what was going to happen.
    Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Dec. 2022
  • The 2023 grand marshal is former Arizona Democratic congresswoman Gabby Giffords, gravely wounded in a savage mass shooting in 2011 that also killed six people.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2022
Adjective
  • Implement web filtering to restrict access to known malicious websites.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • Russia used a Tu-160 in intensive overnight missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, Kyiv's air force said on Friday.
    Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
  • University of Southern California LOS ANGELES Inspired by Walt Disney artist and Imagineer John C. Hench, USC’s intensive BFA and MFA programs teach animation from a maker’s point of view.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • And for every San Antonio, there is a Utah or Washington or Charlotte that can’t believe how cruel the lottery can be.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025
  • This is cruel, unnecessary, and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • While Disney hasn’t revealed Starfighter’s plot, THR adds that the film revolves around Gosling’s character protecting a young charge against evil pursuers, one of whom is Goth.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 7 June 2025
  • These dedicated warriors certainly earn our admiration in the good/evil binary of the conflict, but complications help give the documentary shape, as in the attention given a crusty logger named Valdir, who agreed to be featured on camera.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

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