vicious
UK: ˈvɪʃəs | US: ˈvɪʃəs
adj. deliberately cruel or violent
adj. (of an animal) wild and dangerous
adj. (of language or behavior) harsh or malicious
The word "vicious" traces back to the Latin vitium, meaning "fault" or "defect." Over time, it evolved through Old French vice (meaning "sin" or "flaw") into Middle English as vicious, initially describing moral corruption. By the 16th century, its meaning expanded to include physical violence or savagery, particularly in animals. The suffix -ious (from Latin -iosus) turns the root into an adjective, emphasizing a tendency toward the root's negative quality.
The vicious dog barked and lunged at the intruder.
She was shocked by the vicious rumors spread about her.
The dictator ruled with a vicious disregard for human rights.
The storm caused vicious damage to the coastal town.
His vicious temper made him unpopular among his colleagues.