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vicious Synonyms
Another word for vicious
Choosing another word for vicious depends on context, so the 31 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• adjective (Context 1)
Deliberately cruel, malicious, or spiteful in character or action.
Usage Example
"The candidate became the target of a cruel smear campaign in the weeks leading up to the election."
Strongest
cruel
brutal
malicious
savage
spiteful
Strong
malevolent
ferocious
ruthless
venomous
heartless
• adjective (Context 2)
Dangerously aggressive, fierce, or unruly (especially of an animal).
Usage Example
"The postal worker refused to approach the porch because a fierce guard dog was barking behind the gate."
Strongest
fierce
ferocious
savage
Strong
aggressive
hostile
dangerous
wild
• adjective (Context 3)
Extremely severe, intense, or unpleasant in effect or degree.
Usage Example
"She had to stay home in a darkened room all afternoon because of a severe migraine."
Strongest
severe
fierce
brutal
Strong
intense
harsh
terrible
acute
relentless
atrocious
• adjective (Context 4)
Immoral, depraved, or given to vice.
Usage Example
"The nineteenth-century reformer wrote extensively about saving young people from leading a immoral life."
Strongest
immoral
wicked
depraved
sinful
corrupt
Strong
iniquitous
dissolute
degenerate
nefarious
Opposites of vicious
The opposite of vicious shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
virtuous
tame
kind
mild
moral
docile
gentle
benevolent
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Vicious. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/vicious