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 expediency of their exchanges (back and forth over a couple of weeks) electrified the planet, especially the mounting viciousness of Lamar’s attack (ad hominem all the way).
—
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
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
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for viciousness
Noun
-
Jurors found that Grossman and Erickson both acted with conscious disregard for the boys' safety and malice, thereby awarding punitive damages in the wrongful death lawsuit.—
Julie Sharp,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
-
Jurors decided that Grossman acted with malice and oppression and Erickson acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, kicking off the punitive phase of the trial.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Most importantly, Kaiser went on national radio and warned that democracy itself could not survive if America returned to the greed, monopoly and economic cruelty that had scarred the industrial age.—
Tom Debley,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
-
O'Neill was charged with 19 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, two dog housing violations and one misdemeanor for violating bail conditions from his previous charges, according to DPH.—
Marcella Baietto,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Mark the edge of the swelling on the bite and make note of the time — the spread from the original mark can indicate how fast the venom is spreading.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
10 June 2026
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The source of the venom was twofold.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
9 June 2026
Noun
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If Helmy finds in the Party the kind of fellowship and outlet for his energies that a good career might otherwise have satisfied, Erich embraces his new identity with a snarling brutality that is a repudiation of his former sense of humiliation.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
19 Aug. 2025
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Bringing nuance to our understanding of Asian fetishization, Yu unveils not only her victimization but her participation and, ultimately, her healing and empowerment from the brutality of objectification.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These reports have significantly contributed to increasing hatred towards Islam.—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
-
Everyone has to know that hatred is unacceptable and has no place in our society.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Viciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/viciousness. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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