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
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Colt has been indicted on 55 felony counts, including four counts of malice murder, according to court documents, and has pleaded not guilty.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
6 May 2025 -
Without it, little remained but his malice, his pettiness, and his insatiable appetite for revenge.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Is the austerity of her work simply regurgitated cruelty?—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
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His father, Colin Gray, 54, has been indicted on 29 felonies including two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
6 May 2025
Noun
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At another point, he’s forced to fight while on a psychedelic trip after ingesting toad venom.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2025
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Exposing himself to the venom of snakes for nearly two decades, by injecting venom and allowing himself to be bitten, Friede had generated antibodies that were effective against several snake neurotoxins at once.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Noun
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The Israeli government is indeed openly promising to commit horrific crimes against Palestinian civilians — brutality even above what the world has seen for the past year and a half.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
12 May 2025
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Set in Los Angeles in 2018, with police brutality and the early stages of the Black Lives Matter movement very firmly part of its zeitgeist, Forever begins with Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) unexpectedly reconnecting at a New Year’s Eve party.—
Ebonie Walker,
Refinery29,
12 May 2025
Noun
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The project educates students about the dangers of hatred and bigotry and the importance of standing against all forms of prejudice.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2025
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Meanwhile, Republicans such as our current president spew contempt like volcanoes of hatred, prejudice and madness.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Viciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/viciousness. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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