Meaning of VICIOUS
| Pronunciation: | | 'vishus
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
- [adj] marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful; "a malevolent lie"; "poisonous hate...in his eyes"- Ernest Hemingway; "venomous criticism"; "vicious gossip"
- [adj] (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"
- [adj] having the nature of vice
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| | Synonyms: | | barbarous, brutal, cruel, depraved, evil, fell, inhumane, malevolent, malicious, poisonous, roughshod, savage, venomous, wicked |
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| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | \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.
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess. --Shak.
The title of these lords was vicious in its origin.
--Burke.
A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning. --De
Quincey.
2. Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct;
depraved; wicked; as, vicious children; vicious examples;
vicious conduct.
Who . . . heard this heavy curse, Servant of
servants, on his vicious race. --Milton.
3. Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air,
water, etc. --Dryden.
4. Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language;
vicious idioms.
5. Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly;
refractory; as, a vicious horse.
6. Bitter; spiteful; malignant. [Colloq.]
Syn: Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved. -- {Vi"cious*ly},
adv. -- {Vi"cious*ness}, n.
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