wickedwick‧ed /ˈwɪkɪd/ ●●○ S3 adjective 
the wicked stepmother in ‘Hansel and Gretel’► see thesaurus at unkind2informal behaving badly in a way that is amusing: Carl had a wicked grin on his face as he crept up behind Ellen. Tara hasn’t lost her wicked sense of humour.3spoken informal very good: That’s a wicked bike!—wickedly adverb—wickedness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINwicked
Origin:
1200-1300 wick ‘wicked’ (12-20 centuries), perhaps from Old English wicca; ➔ WITCHEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a wicked witch
- She gave him a wicked smile.
- But oh, she is wicked!
- Had Humphrey and Janet been very wicked too, Lettice wanted to know, and did they too haunt the Lodge?
- Had you flown up the chimney like the wicked old witch? l didn't think so, somehow.
- He has become one of the most wicked on a continent that has seen more than its fair share.
- I told him he didn't look a wicked person.
- The knowledge of his own ingratitude convinced him that he was wicked and worthless.
- They killed the wicked husband and saved their sister.
- They were restless and waiting to see the one so wicked.
THESAURUSvery unkind
especially spoken very unkind: · Why is Jack always so horrible to me?
very unkind and deliberately making people feel unhappy or making them suffer physically: · Her father was very cruel to her.· a selfish, cruel woman
extremely unkind and behaving in a very immoral way: · a wicked thing to do· the wicked stepmother in Cinderella
extremely unkind and enjoying making other people suffer: · Their father was a sadistic bully who beat them regularly.· He took a certain sadistic pleasure in his job.
Longman Language Activatorwords for describing bad people or behaviour use this about behaviour that is morally wrong, or about people who do things that are morally wrong: · In most movies, the bad guy gets caught in the end.· He had a bad influence on his younger brother.· Is there any crime worse than murdering a child?· It never occurred to Sally that the man had any bad intentions.
use this about actions that you believe are morally wrong and unacceptable, even if they are not illegal: · Many people think that testing cosmetics on animals is immoral.· To spend £23 billion on nuclear weapons is immoral, and a terrible waste of money.· Critics complain that the lyrics of the song encourage anti-social and immoral behavior.
deliberately very bad and very cruel to other people: · Police described the crime as wicked and inhuman.· He was an evil man who felt no sympathy for his victims.
informal use this about someone who is not at all honest, helpful, or kind: · That friend of yours is no good. I want you to stay away from her.· My first husband was a no-good, low-down son-of-a-bitch.
someone who is sinister looks bad or evil, so that other people are frightened of them: · Her dark eyes and evil laugh made her seem sinister.something sinister about somebody: · The man was dressed in a black suit and wore dark glasses. There was something sinister about him.
behaving in an unusually cruel and shocking way, that is not at all normal: · What kind of sick and twisted person would do such a thing?· Whoever sent you these disgusting letters must be twisted.
completely evil and morally unacceptable: · He was described as dangerous and depraved and a menace to society.· The film is about a psychiatrist who helps the police capture a depraved serial killer.
involving sexual behaviour or intentions that are considered immoral, unnatural, and harmful: · The newspaper has described the killer as perverted and sexually deviant.· They saw the affection she had for such an old man as unnatural and possibly perverted.
bad or immoral behaviour bad or immoral behaviour, especially relating to sex: · Chicago is a dangerous city and she felt surrounded by corruption and immorality.· Religious leaders campaigned against immorality in the film and music industry.
bad or immoral behaviour, especially involving crimes or not being fair or just: · The investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing and the company's managers were cleared of all charges.
formal bad behaviour by someone in a position of authority or trust, who is expected to behave according to the rules of their profession: · The commission decided there was no evidence of misconduct.professional misconduct: · At present, therapists cannot be found guilty of professional misconduct.gross misconduct (=very serious misconduct): · The police officer found guilty of being drunk on duty was dismissed for gross misconduct.
a quality in someone that makes them enjoy behaving in a very bad or immoral way: · We sensed a wickedness in him that made us feel sick inside.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Tara hasn’t lost her wicked sense of humour.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1behaving in a way that is morally wrong SYN evil: Tara hasn’t lost her wicked sense of humour.· They were restless and waiting to see the one so wicked.· All over the earth men grew so wicked that finally Zeus determined to destroy them.· It was then that a plan came to his low mind so wicked that you will think it almost inconceivable.
· There was very wicked carryings on.· Had Humphrey and Janet been very wicked too, Lettice wanted to know, and did they too haunt the Lodge?· I felt very wicked taking them to a pawnbroker, and then I sent the money to Giulia.· He was not, I think, a very wicked old man.
NOUN· Blondel's smile widened into a wicked grin.
· But some people still thought that actors were dangerous, wicked people.
· Usually a cheerful person with a delightfully wicked sense of humor, Hiroko-san is uncharacteristically somber when I call.
· You must never think of such a wicked thing again.· Heathcliff says wicked things, but I know I can control him.· He said, this is the first wicked thing I've ever done.· I know that's a wicked thing to say about my half-sister, but she isn't.· The one who takes you and makes you do the wicked thing.
· The old woman had only pretended to be so kind; she was in reality a wicked witch.· By the end of the evening, it was easy to cast Mr Smillie as the wicked witch.
· I am a wicked woman and it is a punishment that I am also ill.· He yielded as before, and very soon the two wicked women arrived, with their plot carefully worked out.· She was a cold wicked woman.
the wicked stepmother in ‘Hansel and Gretel’► see thesaurus at unkind2informal behaving badly in a way that is amusing: Carl had a wicked grin on his face as he crept up behind Ellen. Tara hasn’t lost her wicked sense of humour.3spoken informal very good: That’s a wicked bike!—wickedly adverb—wickedness noun [uncountable]