wickedness

noun

ˈwi-kəd-nəs How to pronounce wickedness (audio)
Definition of wickednessnext
1
as in mischief
playful, reckless behavior that is not intended to cause serious harm a couple of live wires who got into all kinds of wickedness during their vacation in Las Vegas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sinfulness
the state or quality of being utterly evil the movie featured a villain of unadulterated wickedness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wickedness Pearl revels in wickedness, presenting a literary world in which a successful writer’s haughtiness is both encouraged and rewarded. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025 Given that Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) has given the town of Oz the illusion that Glinda is the force of good magic protecting them from Elphaba's wickedness, the bubble — which is operated by foot pedal — allows Glinda to appear magical. — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025 The crucial role of the broomstick in the Wicked movies—and earlier Wizard of Oz stories—reflects a long history of women’s mobility being connected to perceptions of wickedness, as women reclaimed a tool of domestic labor to gain both physical and social liberation. — Time, 21 Nov. 2025 Unlike horror movies built on shadowy boogeymen bouncing out of the dark, The Witch's tone stays quiet, swarming around themes of bewitchery, black magic, and wickedness without overdoing it. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wickedness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wickedness
  1. mischief
  2. sinfulness
  3. playfulness
  4. badness
  5. devilment
  6. atrocity
  7. evilness
Noun
  • Lackey was charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, criminal mischief and interruption of critical infrastructure, according to the booking report.
    — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Lackey is accused of burglary, criminal mischief and interrupting critical infrastructure.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of mischief
Noun
  • But soon after, in Genesis 18, God tells Abraham of plans to investigate reports of sinfulness in Sodom and Gomorrah.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.
    — Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of sinfulness
Noun
  • Really, the challenge as an actor is forgetting all the playfulness, ambition and tone around it, or even the books and the research and just playing the truth of it.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Affection, physical touch, flirting and playfulness become less frequent, replaced by stress, conflict and growing resentment.
    — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of playfulness
Noun
  • On one side, a satanic figure named Randall Flagg who gathers his forces of badness to Las Vegas; on the other, the good guys, led by 108-year-old Mother Abigail in, of all places, Boulder.
    — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
  • The show premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, when people were tired and full and bored (and probably also horny), and countered our world’s unceasing badness with its world’s buoyant sweetness.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of badness
Noun
  • Mustard and vinegar provide the devilment for a flavorful bite, particularly when topped with a scattering of scallions and paprika.
    — SAVEUR Editors, Saveur, 5 Feb. 2025
  • But even if truffles are beyond your pay grade, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had in the sheer devilment portrayed in this informative and appetizing book.
    — Eugenia Bone, WSJ, 10 July 2019
Definition of devilment
Noun
  • Instead, people like this coach in Minnesota are promoting these types of atrocities.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Despite initially losing consciousness herself as a result of the explosion, Maria still vividly remembered the atrocity when recounting it to the Museum of Civilian Voices.
    — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Definition of atrocity
Noun
  • That was really what helped me into the character and into her evilness.
    — William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
Definition of evilness

Browse Nearby Words

wickedly
wickedness
wicket
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Cite this Entry

“Wickedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wickedness. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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