vicious

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Violent and dangerous; likely to attack or hurt someone.

   A vicious dog chased the children down the street.

2. 2
   adj

   Cruel and full of hatred; intended to hurt someone.

   She faced a vicious attack from her critics online.

3. 3
   adj

   Very severe or unpleasant.

   A vicious storm tore the roof off the house.

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English vicious, from Anglo-Norman vicious, (modern French vicieux), from Latin vitiōsus, from vitium (“fault, vice”). Equivalent to vice + -ous.

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