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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wickedness
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
No parent or child should ever be subjected to this wickedness.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Sep. 2025
Seedy wickedness on the corner Despite periodic police raids, this seedy wickedness flourishes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024
There are undoubtedly people who take a strange pride in the city and state’s blatant wickedness.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wickedness
Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
No parent or child should ever be subjected to this wickedness.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Sep. 2025
Seedy wickedness on the corner Despite periodic police raids, this seedy wickedness flourishes.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024
There are undoubtedly people who take a strange pride in the city and state’s blatant wickedness.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wickedness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wickedness
Noun
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Brian Douglas Laoz, 22, was charged with two counts attempted premeditated murder and one count each of shooting a deadly missile, tampering with physical evidence and criminal mischief.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
21 Feb. 2026
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An arrest citation shows Rayne faces charges of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Melissa has teamed up with Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and Friends once again to create a nostalgic and vibrant collection that merges Melissa’s irreverence with Sanrio’s playfulness.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
24 Feb. 2026
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The sense of playfulness and experimentation extended to Fennell and Sandgren’s influences and reference points, which went beyond other films and even paintings and into more unorthodox areas.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The family is known for murdering its own members, planning atrocities with wildfire, and generally unleashing a draconian rage on the commoners of Westeros.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
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It was created in 1995 in the aftermath of mass atrocities in Rwanda, Somalia and Bosnia.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That was really what helped me into the character and into her evilness.—
William Earl,
Variety,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wickedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wickedness. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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