Search Result for "vicious": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (4)

1. (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering;
- Example: "a barbarous crime"
- Example: "brutal beatings"
- Example: "cruel tortures"
- Example: "Stalin's roughshod treatment of the kulaks"
- Example: "a savage slap"
- Example: "vicious kicks"
[syn: barbarous, brutal, cruel, fell, roughshod, savage, vicious]

2. having the nature of vice;
[syn: evil, vicious]

3. bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure;
- Example: "a criminal waste of talent"
- Example: "a deplorable act of violence"
- Example: "adultery is as reprehensible for a husband as for a wife"
[syn: condemnable, criminal, deplorable, reprehensible, vicious]

4. marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful;
- Example: "poisonous hate"
- Example: "venomous criticism"
- Example: "vicious gossip"
[syn: poisonous, venomous, vicious]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Vicious \Vi"cious\, a. [OF. vicious, F. vicieux, fr. L.
   vitiosus, fr. vitium vice. See Vice a fault.]
   1. Characterized by vice or defects; defective; faulty;
      imperfect.
      [1913 Webster]

            Though I perchance am vicious in my guess. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            The title of these lords was vicious in its origin.
                                                  --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

            A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning. --De
                                                  Quincey.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct;
      depraved; wicked; as, vicious children; vicious examples;
      vicious conduct.
      [1913 Webster]

            Who . . . heard this heavy curse,
            Servant of servants, on his vicious race. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air,
      water, etc. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language;
      vicious idioms.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly;
      refractory; as, a vicious horse.
      [1913 Webster]

   6. Bitter; spiteful; malignant. [Colloq.]
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved.
        [1913 Webster] -- Vi"cious*ly, adv. --
        Vi"cious*ness, n.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

vicious
    adj 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" [syn: barbarous, brutal, cruel, fell,
           roughshod, savage, vicious]
    2: having the nature of vice [syn: evil, vicious]
    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" [syn:
       condemnable, criminal, deplorable, reprehensible,
       vicious]
    4: marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful; "poisonous
       hate"; "venomous criticism"; "vicious gossip" [syn:
       poisonous, venomous, vicious]