Word
vicious
Phoneticsvi·cious, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈvɪʃəs/
UK/vˈɪʃəs/
Definitions
01violent and cruel
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very violent and cruel, often with the intent to hurt someone badly.
adj. characterized by a desire to inflict pain or suffering; deliberately cruel or violent.
日本語:凶悪※
“The newspaper reported a vicious attack on a young man in the park.”
“The dictator was known for his vicious treatment of political rivals, often using the secret police to silence any form of dissent.”
02aggressive animals
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing an animal that is dangerous and likely to bite or attack.
adj. dangerously aggressive or savage, typically used of animals prone to unprovoked attacks.
“Keep your distance because that dog can be quite vicious with strangers.”
“The hikers were warned that the mother bear could become vicious if she felt her cubs were being threatened by their presence.”
Antonyms
03severe or intense
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very strong, severe, or unpleasant.
adj. possessing a high degree of intensity or severity, often in a way that causes physical or mental distress.
“She had a vicious headache that lasted for the entire afternoon.”
“The sailors struggled to keep the ship upright as a vicious storm battered the hull with relentless waves.”
Antonyms
04immoral
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. having a bad character or doing things that are morally wrong.
adj. characterized by vice, immorality, or depravity.
“The old stories warn against leading a vicious life full of greed.”
“In the Victorian novel, the antagonist is depicted as a vicious character whose soul has been corrupted by a lifetime of indulgence and crime.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “vicious” in context.
Verb
01. launch a vicious assault
“The opposition party launched a vicious assault on the government's new economic policy.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
02. vicious and cruel
“The dictator was known for his vicious and cruel treatment of political dissidents.”
adj + and + adj
03. vicious dog
“A sign on the gate warned visitors to beware of the vicious dog.”
adj + noun
Noun
04. vicious attack on the victim
“The police are looking for witnesses to the vicious attack on the victim that occurred last night.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
05. vicious circle of debt
“High interest rates trapped the small business in a vicious circle of debt.”
adj + noun + of + noun
06. vicious cycle of poverty
“Many families find it impossible to break out of the vicious cycle of poverty without external support.”
adj + noun + of + noun
Adverb
07. particularly vicious rumor
“A particularly vicious rumor about the CEO's health caused the company's stock price to plummet.”
adv + adj + noun
08. vicious campaign
09. vicious circle
Real-World Examples
“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'.” “Lord Woolley, principal of Homerton College at Cambridge, said Arday had been subjected to a "vicious witch hunt".” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/vicious
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0