vicious

adjective

VISH-uhs/ˈvɪʃəs/

3 meanings of vicious

1
adjective
Very cruel and violent, meant to hurt or destroy.
Like a storm that smashes everything in its path on purpose.
The dog gave a vicious bite that needed stitches.
He made a vicious attack on the smaller boy and left him bruised.
Similarbrutal, savage, violent, ferocious, cruel
Oppositegentle, mild
2
adjective
Fierce, wild, and quick to attack.
Like an angry animal showing its teeth and ready to lunge.
The stray dog turned vicious when anyone came near its food.
A vicious shark circled the divers for several minutes.
Similarsavage, aggressive, ferocious, fierce, violent
Oppositegentle, tame, docile, friendly
Note
3
adjectivearchaic
Living in a bad, sinful, or immoral way.
Like someone who keeps choosing the wrong, harmful path again and again.
The preacher warned that a vicious life would lead only to ruin.
A murrain on you, Reverend Apse/I hope you get caught in a vicious moral lapse.
1930, Ogden Nash, Lines to Be Mumbled at Ovington'sHere, vicious means bad, sinful, or immoral.
Note

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Origin

It comes from Latin vitium, meaning "fault" or "vice," and reached English through French.