# vicious

/ˈvɪʃəs/ (US) · /vˈɪʃəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vicious
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. violent and cruel

adjective · CEFR B2

very violent and cruel, often with the intent to hurt someone badly.

For teachers: characterized by a desire to inflict pain or suffering; deliberately cruel or violent.

- 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.

### 2. aggressive animals

adjective · CEFR B2

describing an animal that is dangerous and likely to bite or attack.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. severe or intense

adjective · CEFR B2

very strong, severe, or unpleasant.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. immoral

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

having a bad character or doing things that are morally wrong.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The dog gave a vicious growl when I approached.
- The boxer was known for his vicious left hook that often ended matches in the first round.
- Economists warned that the country was trapped in a vicious cycle of rising inflation and stagnant wages, where each factor exacerbated the other.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.