vicious
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
very violent and cruel, often with the intent to hurt someone badly.
characterized by a desire to inflict pain or suffering; deliberately cruel or violent.
Simple“The newspaper reported a vicious attack on a young man in the park.”
In context“The dictator was known for his vicious treatment of political rivals, often using the secret police to silence any form of dissent.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
describing an animal that is dangerous and likely to bite or attack.
dangerously aggressive or savage, typically used of animals prone to unprovoked attacks.
Simple“Keep your distance because that dog can be quite vicious with strangers.”
In context“The hikers were warned that the mother bear could become vicious if she felt her cubs were being threatened by their presence.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
very strong, severe, or unpleasant.
possessing a high degree of intensity or severity, often in a way that causes physical or mental distress.
Simple“She had a vicious headache that lasted for the entire afternoon.”
In context“The sailors struggled to keep the ship upright as a vicious storm battered the hull with relentless waves.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
having a bad character or doing things that are morally wrong.
characterized by vice, immorality, or depravity.
Simple“The old stories warn against leading a vicious life full of greed.”
In context“In the Victorian novel, the antagonist is depicted as a vicious character whose soul has been corrupted by a lifetime of indulgence and crime.”
Usage vicious campaign · vicious circle
“He added: “For more than a week, the rightwing press, politicians and the far right have hounded Jason with the most vicious racism.”
“Fewer people has therefore resulted in a vicious circle of fewer services and jobs in 'Empty Spain'.”
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English vicious, from Anglo-Norman vicious, (modern French vicieux), from Latin vitiōsus, from vitium (“fault, vice”). Equivalent to vice + -ous.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.