vicious

Adjective
Synonyms: barbarousbrutalcruelfellroughshodsavageevilcondemnablecriminaldeplorablereprehensiblepoisonous

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (4)

  1. (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering“a barbarous crime”“brutal beatings”“cruel tortures”“Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks”“a savage slap”“vicious kicks”Synonyms: barbarousbrutalcruelfellroughshodsavage
  2. having the nature of viceSynonyms: evil
  3. bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure“a criminal waste of talent”“a deplorable act of violence”“adultery is as reprehensible for a husband as for a wife”Synonyms: condemnablecriminaldeplorablereprehensible
  4. marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful“poisonous hate”“venomous criticism”“vicious gossip”Synonyms: poisonousvenomous
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Vicious \Vi"cious\, a. [OF. vicious, F. vicieux, fr. L. vitiosus, fr. vitium vice. See Vice a fault.]

1.Characterized by vice or defects; defective; faulty; imperfect. [1913 Webster]

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
The title of these lords was vicious in its origin.— Burke.[1913 Webster]
A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning.— De Quincey.[1913 Webster]

2.Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct; depraved; wicked; as, vicious children; vicious examples; vicious conduct. [1913 Webster]

Who . . . heard this heavy curse, Servant of servants, on his vicious race.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

3.Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air, water, etc. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4.Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language; vicious idioms. [1913 Webster]

5.Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory; as, a vicious horse. [1913 Webster]

6.Bitter; spiteful; malignant. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Syn: Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved. [1913 Webster] -- Vi"cious*ly, adv. -- Vi"cious*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

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