vicious
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++vi·cious /ˈvɪʃəs/ ●●○ adjective 1 VIOLENTviolent and cruel in a way that hurts someone physically 凶险的；残酷的 a vicious murder 一桩凶残的谋杀案 a vicious killer 凶狠的杀手 Keep away from that dog, he can be vicious. 离那只狗远点，它有时很凶猛。► see thesaurus at cruel, violent2 UNKINDvery unkind in a way that is intended to hurt someone’s feelings or make their character seem bad 狠毒的，恶毒的，恶意的 SYN malicious Sarah can be quite vicious at times. 萨拉有时相当狠毒。 a vicious personal attack on the Duchess 对公爵夫人恶毒的人身攻击 She was shocked by the vicious tone in his voice. 她对他恶毒的语气感到震惊。3 SERIOUS SITUATIONunpleasantly strong or severe 剧烈的；恶劣的 SYN violent a vicious gust of wind 一阵很猛烈的风 a vicious headache 剧烈的头痛 —viciously adverb He twisted her arm viciously. 他凶狠地反拧她的胳膊。 —viciousness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
vicious• The Senator launched a vicious attack on the former President.• Someone is conducting a vicious campaign of false rumours against the Royal Family.• Big Willie was the toughest dude on the block, a bad combination of vicious clothes-taking bully and mean, gutsy fighter.• "It was a particularly vicious crime, " a police spokesman said.• a vicious crime• Rottweilers are vicious dogs, far too dangerous to have as pets.• vicious dogs• High tide is often positively dangerous, with vicious dumping waves breaking on the steep slope of the upper beach.• Everybody knew Al was vicious in the courtroom, but they knew he left it in the courtroom.• But the old guard in the leadership sends in the tanks and introduces a new phase of vicious repression.• Apparently the girl was the victim of a vicious sex attack.• The car roared past, its gun still barking as the car made a vicious turn down Longwood.• John gets pretty vicious when he's drunk.• We found ourselves surrounded by a gang of vicious young thugs, armed with belts, sticks and stones.Origin vicious (1300-1400) Old French vicieux, from Latin vitiosus “full of faults”, from vitium; → VICEvi·cious adjectiveChineseSyllable
in that way Corpus cruel a hurts and violent
vicious
vi‧cious /ˈvɪʃəs/
adjective
a vicious murder
a vicious killer
Keep away from that dog, he can be vicious.
2. very unkind in a way that is intended to hurt someone’s feelings or make their character seem bad
SYN malicious:
Sarah can be quite vicious at times.
a vicious personal attack on the Duchess
She was shocked by the vicious tone in his voice.
3. unpleasantly strong or severe
SYN violent:
a vicious gust of wind
a vicious headache
—viciously adverb:
He twisted her arm viciously.
—viciousness noun [uncountable]
vi‧cious /ˈvɪʃəs/
adjective Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: vicieux, from Latin vitiosus 'full of faults', from vitium; ⇨ vice
1. violent and cruel in a way that hurts someone physically:Language: Old French
Origin: vicieux, from Latin vitiosus 'full of faults', from vitium; ⇨ vice
2. very unkind in a way that is intended to hurt someone’s feelings or make their character seem bad
SYN malicious:
3. unpleasantly strong or severe
SYN violent:
—viciously adverb:
—viciousness noun [uncountable]