vicious
/ˈvɪʃəs/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: viciouser · viciousest
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Violent, destructive and cruel.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Savage and aggressive.
Adjective
Examples
He had always been remarkably immune from such little ailments, and had only once in his life been ill, of a vicious pneumonia long ago at school. He hadn't the faintest idea what to with a cold in the head, he just took quinine and continued to blow his nose.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “vicious” mean?
Violent, destructive and cruel.
Is “vicious” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.