vicious meaning and definition

VICIOUS adjective

Definition of vicious (adjective)

1. (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"
   • synonyms: barbarous, brutal, cruel, fell, roughshod, savage
2. having the nature of vice
   • synonyms: evil
3. bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
   • "a criminal waste of talent"; "a deplorable act of violence"; "adultery is as reprehensible for a husband as for a wife"
   • synonyms: condemnable, criminal, deplorable, reprehensible
4. marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful
   • "poisonous hate"; "venomous criticism"; "vicious gossip"
   • synonyms: poisonous, venomous