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
Relevance
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for viciousness
Noun
-
This is not someone who is going to kill someone out of malice.—
Maureen Maher,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2025 -
These steps are particularly important when installing extensions or apps from Google, given the much higher incidence of malice being reported over the past decade from its offerings.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a great line: Honesty without compassion equals cruelty.—
Jayson Jenks,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
In each of these films, cruelty commingles with tenderness, and hideous acts take place against backdrops of often stunning natural beauty.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Though interesting to look at, the Portuguese man-of-war’s venom can be deadly to small fish and painful to humans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The venom also contains hemorrhagic toxins which can cause severe internal bleeding and skeletal muscle damage.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Remick is the defendant in two active police brutality lawsuits.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Prosecutors said Mahdi constantly used brutality to solve his problems.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While highlighting the vicious cycle of ethnic hatred, Gavin strives for impartiality.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Viciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/viciousness. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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