# wickedness

/ˈwɪkədnəs/ (US) · /wˈɪkɪdnəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wickedness
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

the quality of being very bad, cruel, or evil. It describes actions or people that are morally wrong.

For teachers: the quality of being morally evil or wicked; the state of being guilty of serious wrongdoing.

## Examples

- The story is full of wickedness and betrayal.
- The detective spent years trying to prove the wickedness of the accused, who had stolen from the poor.
- The philosopher argued that the pursuit of power often leads to a kind of systemic wickedness that corrupts even the most well-intentioned institutions.

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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.