vicious Hear it!

vicious definition

vi·cious (vis̸h′əs)

adjective

    1. given to or characterized by vice; evil, corrupt, or depraved
    2. tending to deprave or corrupt; pernicious vicious interests
    3. harmful, unwholesome, or noxious a vicious concoction
  2. ruined by defects, flaws, or errors; full of faults a vicious argument
  3. having bad or harmful habits; unruly a vicious horse
  4. malicious; spiteful; mean a vicious rumor
  5. very intense, forceful, sharp, etc. a vicious blow

Etymology: ME < OFr vicieus < L vitiosus, full of faults, corrupt, vicious < vitium, vice

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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