Thesaurus
vicious
Synonyms and Antonyms of vicious
1
extreme in degree, power, or effect
2
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
hard-hearted, ironhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, stonyhearted, unfeeling
bloodthirsty, cutthroat, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine
catty, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vindictive
draconian, draconic, hardhanded, harsh, heavy-handed, oppressive
red in tooth and claw
3
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
base, contemptible, despicable, dirty, disreputable, evil-minded, ignoble, ill, infernal, low, mean, snide, sordid
atrocious, cruel, infamous, nasty
blamable, blameworthy, censurable, objectionable, obscene, offensive, reprehensible
corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, loose, low-minded, perverted, reprobate, scrofulous, sick, unhealthy
cursed (also curst), cussed, defiling, noxious, pernicious, pestilential, ugly, ungodly, unwholesome
banned, barred, condemned, discouraged, forbidden, illegal, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, unclean
execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched
errant, erring, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous
improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly, vulgar
elevated, high, high-minded, law-abiding, legitimate, lofty, noble, principled, reputable, scrupulous
allowed, authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted
approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned
abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported
clean, correct, decent, decorous, exemplary, proper, seemly
blameless, commendable, creditable, guiltless, legitimate
chaste, immaculate, incorruptible, innocent, inoffensive, irreproachable, lily-white, perfect, pure, spotless, squeaky-clean, uncorrupted, unerring, unfallen, unobjectionable, venerable, white, wholesome
4
violently unfriendly or aggressive in disposition
argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, belligerent, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, scrappy, warlike
bare-knuckle (also bare-knuckled), blood-and-guts, in-your-face, take-no-prisoners
contentious, quarrelsome, truculent
bestial, brute, inhuman, inhumane
heartless, implacable, merciless, pitiless, relentless, ruthless, unrelenting, wanton
bloodthirsty, bloody, homicidal, murdering, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine
5
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
compassionate, good, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, warm, warmhearted
affable, agreeable, amiable, cordial, friendly, genial, gracious, nice, pleasant
affectionate, amorous, sweet, tender, tenderhearted
altruistic, high-minded, humanitarian, magnanimous, noble, philanthropic (also philanthropical)
Synonym Discussion of vicious
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- a vicious gangster
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- a villainous assault
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- an iniquitous system of taxation
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- the nefarious rackets of organized crime
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- city hall was rife with corrupt politicians
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- a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers
Learn More about vicious
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Dictionary: Definition of vicious Medical Dictionary: Definition of vicious Spanish Central: Translation of vicious Nglish: Translation of vicious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of vicious for Arabic speakers
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