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What is another word for Vicious? – 162 Vicious Synonyms

    Need another word for Vicious? Use these synonyms of Vicious from our thesaurus to say it differently.


    Synonyms & Similar Words

    cruel brutal savage ferocious merciless ruthless harsh severe pitiless relentless inhumane barbaric inhuman heartless callous unfeeling remorseless unsympathetic unforgiving unrelenting violent aggressive belligerent pugnacious quarrelsome contentious cantankerous disagreeable unpleasant nasty malevolent malignant vicious evil wicked vile odious detestable abhorrent repulsive repugnant hateful loathsome

    Meaning of Vicious

    The primary meaning of the word "vicious" is having or showing a willingness to harm or hurt others.

    Definitions

    • Having or showing a willingness to harm or hurt others, either physically or emotionally
    • Having a very bad or unpleasant quality, such as being cruel or violent
    • (Of a problem or situation) very severe or serious, and difficult to deal with

    Etymology of Vicious

    The word "vicious" comes from the Latin word "vitiosus", meaning "full of faults" or "defective", which is derived from "vitium", meaning "fault" or "vice"
    Historically, the word "vicious" was used to describe something that was morally corrupt or defective, but its meaning has since expanded to include a range of negative connotations

    Example Uses

    • The vicious dog attacked the mailman
    • The company's vicious business tactics led to its competitors going out of business
    • The vicious cycle of poverty and crime is difficult to break

    Antonyms & Near Antonyms

    gentle kind compassionate merciful lenient mild moderate peaceful calm serene tranquil friendly affable amicable benevolent generous charitable humane sympathetic forgiving tolerant patient understanding

    Related Nouns

    violence cruelty brutality savagery ferocity mercilessness ruthlessness harshness severity pitilessness relentlessness inhumanity barbarity heartlessness callousness unfeelingness remorselessness unsympatheticness unforgivingness unrelentingness aggression belligerence pugnacity quarrelsomeness contentiousness

    Related Verbs

    harm hurt injure damage wound maim brutalize savage ferocize mercilessly ruthlessly harshly severely pitilessly relentlessly inhumanly barbarically heartlessly callously unfeelingly remorselessly unsympathetically unforgivingly unrelentingly attack assault violence brutalize savage

    Related Adjectives

    cruel brutal savage ferocious merciless ruthless harsh severe pitiless relentless inhumane barbaric inhuman heartless callous unfeeling remorseless unsympathetic unforgiving unrelenting violent aggressive belligerent pugnacious quarrelsome contentious cantankerous disagreeable unpleasant nasty malevolent malignant evil wicked vile odious detestable abhorrent repulsive repugnant hateful loathsome