CEFR B1

vicious

adjective

Meaning

Cruel, violent, and deliberately intending to injure or cause pain.

Examples

The politician was subjected to a vicious personal attack from his opponent.
He was known for his vicious temper, especially when he hadn't had his morning coffee.

Synonyms: mean, cruel, savage, malevolent

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vicious (B1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈvɪʃəs/

Definition

Cruel, violent, and deliberately intending to injure or cause pain.

Examples

The politician was subjected to a vicious personal attack from his opponent.
He was known for his vicious temper, especially when he hadn't had his morning coffee.
The vicious rumors spread quickly through the small town, damaging her reputation.

How to Use vicious

vicious circle (idiom): A situation where a problem causes another problem, which in turn causes the original problem to get worse. — "The country is caught in a vicious circle of poverty and lack of education."
vicious attack (collocation): A very cruel or violent verbal or physical assault. — "The politician faced a vicious attack on his character during the debate."

Synonyms of vicious

Words with a similar meaning to vicious:

Antonyms of vicious

Words with the opposite meaning to vicious:

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