adj.
Pronunciation: ' vi-sh ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vicios, from Latin vitiosus full of faults, corrupt, from vitium vice
Date: 14th century
1 : having the nature or quality of vice or immorality : DEPRAVED
2 : DEFECTIVE , FAULTY also : INVALID
3 : IMPURE , NOXIOUS
4 a : dangerously aggressive : SAVAGE <a vicious dog> b : marked by violence or ferocity : FIERCE <a vicious fight>
5 : MALICIOUS , SPITEFUL < vicious gossip>
6 : worsened by internal causes that reciprocally augment each other <a vicious wage-price spiral>
– vi · cious · ly adverb
– vi · cious · ness noun
synonyms VICIOUS , VILLAINOUS , INIQUITOUS , NEFARIOUS , CORRUPT , DEGENERATE mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct. VICIOUS may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence <a vicious gangster>. VILLAINOUS applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic <a villainous assault>. INIQUITOUS implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness <an iniquitous system of taxation>. NEFARIOUS suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct <the nefarious rackets of organized crime>. CORRUPT stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations <city hall was rife with corrupt politicians>. DEGENERATE suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition <a degenerate regime propped up by foreign powers>.