1
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
simple viciousness can be the only reason for spreading such vile, unfounded rumors
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
the unspeakable viciousness of some dictators in the past
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of viciousness
The horror has come now like a storm— what if this night prefigured the night after death— what if all thereafter was an eternal quivering on the edge of an abyss, with everything base and vicious in oneself urging one forward and the baseness and viciousness of the world just ahead.
—
Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
But this candid and absorbing memoir is also a stark reminder of the corruptions of power, the uncertainties of revolution and the frequent viciousness of human nature.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Down 14 points with 30 seconds left, the viciousness of the hit seemed more about injuring than winning a game that was already settled.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The casual viciousness of children is the centerpiece of the film, which has triggered audiences who grew up in the same era as Polinger.
—William Earl, Variety, 23 Dec. 2025
Hinkey finds both viciousness and vulnerability within Red Feather, crafting, through his fierce physicality and long, unblinking gazes, a man aware of the world steadily leaving him behind.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The movie’s grand centerpiece is a dinner party where Theo and Ivy go at each other with such viciousness that their guests can only stand by and watch, aghast.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026
But this candid and absorbing memoir is also a stark reminder of the corruptions of power, the uncertainties of revolution and the frequent viciousness of human nature.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Down 14 points with 30 seconds left, the viciousness of the hit seemed more about injuring than winning a game that was already settled.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The casual viciousness of children is the centerpiece of the film, which has triggered audiences who grew up in the same era as Polinger.
—William Earl, Variety, 23 Dec. 2025
Hinkey finds both viciousness and vulnerability within Red Feather, crafting, through his fierce physicality and long, unblinking gazes, a man aware of the world steadily leaving him behind.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
The movie’s grand centerpiece is a dinner party where Theo and Ivy go at each other with such viciousness that their guests can only stand by and watch, aghast.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for viciousness
Noun
-
Nancy’s malice ran the gamut from the petty to the pivotal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Officers arrested Granger on Tuesday and charged him with rape, aggravated assault, malice murder, and two counts of felony murder.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Nikolas Hart, 25, with six counts, including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanors related to allegations of domestic violence, witness tampering and disobeying a court order.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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It will be used to invalidate our state laws and perpetuate a system of animal cruelty that predominantly serves the interests of factory farms.—
John Cleveland,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since the length of the fangs and the amount of venom injected depends on the size of the snake (an adult timber rattler may have fangs half an inch long), the copperhead’s bite is less deep and severe.—
Dr. C. E. Kuschel,
Outdoor Life,
9 Apr. 2026
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If bitten, Dowd advises snake bite victims to remain calm, limit movement to slow the spread of venom and call 911 immediately.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Yet, while Munro’s denial was a horrible violence, Fremlin’s deplorable acts were the original brutality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
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Nominations in the news, public service and radio/podcast categories span networks, from PBS to ABC and NBC News, with topics ranging from the Los Angeles wildfires to the war in Gaza, immigration and police brutality.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gracie’s discovery is squelched and this character’s value to the play comes in establishing how institutional silence can have an equally pernicious impact on confronting social hatreds.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
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There is nothing quite like the theater and hatred that comes when the Penguins and Flyers share a sheet of ice.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Viciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/viciousness. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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