What does "vicious" mean?
Vicious: 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.
Additional senses
- 2.Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air, water, etc. Dryden.
- 3.Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language; vicious idioms.
- 4.Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory; as, a vicious horse.
- 5.Bitter; spiteful; malignant. [Colloq.] -- Vi"cious*ly, adv. -- Vi"cious*ness, n.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00