vicious Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
    savage; barbarous; brutal; cruel; fell; roughshod.
    • a barbarous crime
    • brutal beatings
    • cruel tortures
    • Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks
    • a savage slap
    • vicious kicks
  2. adjective satellite having the nature of vice
    evil.
  3. adjective satellite bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
    criminal; condemnable; deplorable; reprehensible.
    • a criminal waste of talent
    • a deplorable act of violence
    • adultery is as reprehensible for a husband as for a wife
  4. adjective satellite marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful
    poisonous; venomous.
    • poisonous hate
    • venomous criticism
    • vicious gossip

WordNet

Vi"cious adjective
Etymology
OF. vicious, F. vicieux, fr. L. vitiosus, fr. vitium vice. See Vice a fault.
Definitions
  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.

Webster 1913