viciousadjective
uk/ˈvɪʃ.əs/us/ˈvɪʃ.əs/C2 Vicious people or actions show an intention or wish to hurt someone or something very badly:
a vicious thug
a vicious dog
The police said that this was one of the most vicious attacks they'd ever seen.
He gave her a vicious look.
C2 used to describe an object, condition, or remark that causes great physical or emotional pain:
a large collection of vicious medieval torture instruments
a vicious lie/accusation/rumour
I have a vicious headache.
More examples
- They were the victims of a vicious racist attack.
- These otters are particularly vicious beasties, with very sharp teeth.
- He was set upon by a vicious dog.
- The insurance business suffered from a vicious cycle of boom and bust.
- He was subjected to the most vicious calumny, but he never complained and never sued.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Violent or aggressive
- aggressive
- aggro
- all hell breaks loose idiom
- atrocious
- atrocity
- confrontation
- desperate
- flex your muscles idiom
- forced
- forcible
- frenzied
- gay-basher
- hostile
- running with blood idiom
- sabre-rattling
- savage
- savagely
- savagery
- steep
- steeped in blood idiom
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viciously
adverb uk/ˈvɪʃ.əs.li/us/ˈvɪʃ.əs.li/
viciousness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈvɪʃ.əs.nəs/us/ˈvɪʃ.əs.nəs/