# wicked

/ˈwɪkəd/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. evil or morally bad

adjective · CEFR B1

morally bad, evil, or very cruel.

For teachers: morally depraved or sinful; characterized by a deliberate intent to cause harm or violate moral laws.

- In the story, the wicked queen tries to trick the princess with a poisoned apple.
- The philosopher argued that no human is born truly wicked, but rather that circumstances and choices shape a person's moral character.

### 2. excellent or cool

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

very good, impressive, or cool.

For teachers: denoting excellence or high quality; used as a positive evaluative descriptor in informal contexts.

- That was a wicked guitar solo at the end of the song.
- The skaters were performing some wicked tricks at the park, drawing a large crowd of impressed teenagers.

Teaching tip: This sense is common in British English and certain American dialects; it is highly informal and should be avoided in professional writing.

### 3. severe or harsh

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

very strong, unpleasant, or difficult to deal with.

For teachers: characterized by extreme intensity, often in a way that causes discomfort or distress.

- A wicked storm blew through the town, knocking down several old trees.
- The hikers were forced to turn back when a wicked wind began to howl across the exposed ridge.

Usage: Often used to describe weather, pain, or physical sensations.

### 4. very or extremely

adverb · CEFR C1 · American English · Dialect · Slang

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' to make an adjective stronger.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to modify adjectives or adverbs; highly characteristic of specific regional dialects.

- The movie we saw last night was wicked funny.
- The traffic on the bridge was wicked slow this morning due to the construction work.

Teaching tip: This is a famous marker of the Boston (New England) accent in the United States; using it elsewhere might sound unnatural unless you are mimicking that specific dialect.

## Examples

- The wicked queen tried to trick the princess.
- The movie features a wicked villain who wants to take over the entire world.

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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.