Viscious vs. Vicious — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 26, 2024
"Viscious" is a misspelling; the correct spelling is "vicious," meaning cruel or violent in nature.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Viscious or Vicious
How to spell Vicious?
Viscious
Incorrect Spelling
Vicious
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
"Vicious" has the word "ice" in it - think of the cold cruelty.
Recall "vice," a moral fault, which sounds like the beginning of "vicious."
A "vicious" dog doesn't have extra "s" like in "viscious."
Think of "viscous" for thickness in liquids, but "vicious" for aggressive behavior.
Relate "vicious" to "malicious" – both negative and spelled with a single 's' in the middle.
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How Do You Spell Vicious Correctly?
Incorrect: The dog looked viscious, but it was actually very gentle.
Correct: The dog looked vicious, but it was actually very gentle.
Incorrect: The fight turned viscious very quickly.
Correct: The fight turned vicious very quickly.
Incorrect: A viscious rumor spread throughout the school.
Correct: A vicious rumor spread throughout the school.
Incorrect: The viscious cycle of poverty is hard to break.
Correct: The vicious cycle of poverty is hard to break.
Incorrect: His viscious comments hurt her feelings.
Correct: His vicious comments hurt her feelings.
Vicious Definitions
Vicious means deliberately cruel or violent.
The dog had a vicious temperament.
It can also signify something morally depraved.
The dictator was known for his vicious crimes.
Vicious is used to describe a sequence that maintains its intensity.
The two teams are caught in a vicious cycle of competition.
Vicious can describe actions characterized by aggressive malevolence.
He launched a vicious attack against his critics.
Deliberately cruel or violent
A vicious assault
Immoral
Every soul on earth, virtuous or vicious, shall perish
(of language or a line of reasoning) imperfect; defective.
Mean-spirited or deliberately hurtful; malicious
Vicious gossip.
Extremely violent or injurious; cruel
A vicious blow to the stomach.
Vicious tactics in suppressing a rebellion.
Marked by an aggressive disposition. Used chiefly of animals.
Disposed to violent or destructive behavior
A vicious dictator.
Severe, powerful, or intense; fierce
A vicious storm.
Having the nature of vice; evil, immoral, or depraved
"All men who succeed ... in finance in New York at last ... return to their native towns, assert that cities are vicious, marry their childhood sweethearts" (Sinclair Lewis).
Given to vice, immorality, or depravity
"The sum and substance of it was, That Oliver was a foundling, born of low and vicious parents" (Charles Dickens).
Faulty or defective
A forced, vicious style of prose.
Violent, destructive and cruel.
Savage and aggressive.
(archaic) Pertaining to vice; characterised by immorality or depravity.
Characterized by vice or defects; defective; faulty; imperfect.
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess.
The title of these lords was vicious in its origin.
A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning.
Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct; depraved; wicked; as, vicious children; vicious examples; vicious conduct.
Who . . . heard this heavy curse,Servant of servants, on his vicious race.
Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air, water, etc.
Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language; vicious idioms.
Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory; as, a vicious horse.
Bitter; spiteful; malignant.
(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
Having the nature of vice
Marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful;
A malevolent lie
Poisonous hate...in his eyes
Venomous criticism
Vicious gossip
It can also refer to something severe or extreme in nature.
The country is facing a vicious economic downturn.
Vicious Meaning in a Sentence
The tiger showed its vicious side when threatened.
The debate turned vicious as each side refused to back down.
That vicious dog has been a concern for the neighborhood.
He faced vicious criticism for his controversial statements.
A vicious cycle of violence has plagued the region for years.
Surviving in the wild requires facing vicious predators.
A vicious storm hit the coast, causing extensive damage.
Her vicious words cut deeper than she intended.
The competition among the companies became vicious.
The film depicted a vicious battle that changed history.
The villain in the story was particularly vicious and cruel.
She fought off her attacker with vicious determination.
Vicious rumors can destroy someone's reputation overnight.
The novel explores the vicious nature of revenge.
They endured a vicious campaign of harassment.
In politics, it's not uncommon to witness vicious backstabbing.
A vicious circle of debt and despair can be hard to escape.
The match ended in a vicious clash between the players.
The vicious winds uprooted trees and damaged homes.
The lion's roar was the prelude to a vicious hunt.
To survive, the plant must withstand the vicious desert heat.
He was known for his vicious temper when provoked.
The virus attacked her immune system with vicious efficiency.
Their vicious feud lasted for years, affecting those around them.
A vicious argument broke out during the meeting.
Vicious Idioms & Phrases
A vicious circle
A situation in which one problem causes another problem that then makes the first problem worse.
They were caught in a vicious circle of borrowing money to pay debts.
Vicious as a tiger
Extremely fierce or violent.
When it comes to protecting her family, she's as vicious as a tiger.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called Vicious?
It is called "vicious" derived from the Latin word "vitiosus" meaning "full of faults."
What is the root word of Vicious?
The root word is "vice."
What is the verb form of Vicious?
Vicious is an adjective; it does not have a verb form.
What is the pronunciation of Vicious?
The pronunciation of vicious is /ˈvɪʃəs/.
Which preposition is used with Vicious?
There isn't a fixed preposition for "vicious"; it varies based on context.
Which vowel is used before Vicious?
There is no specific vowel always used before "vicious."
What is the singular form of Vicious?
Vicious is an adjective and does not have a singular form.
Which article is used with Vicious?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "vicious" based on context.
Which conjunction is used with Vicious?
Any conjunction can be used with "vicious" depending on the sentence context.
Is Vicious a noun or adjective?
Vicious is an adjective.
Is Vicious an adverb?
No, vicious is not an adverb.
How many syllables are in Vicious?
There are two syllables in "vicious."
How do we divide Vicious into syllables?
Vi-cious.
What part of speech is Vicious?
Vicious is an adjective.
What is the opposite of Vicious?
The opposite of vicious might be "benevolent."
What is the second form of Vicious?
Vicious does not have verb forms.
What is the plural form of Vicious?
Vicious does not have a plural form.
Is Vicious a collective noun?
No, vicious is not a collective noun.
What is a stressed syllable in Vicious?
The stressed syllable is "Vi".
What is another term for Vicious?
Another term for vicious is "malevolent."
What is the third form of Vicious?
Vicious does not have verb forms.
Is Vicious an abstract noun?
No, vicious is not an abstract noun.
Is Vicious a vowel or consonant?
Vicious is a word, not a letter, so it contains both vowels and consonants.
Is Vicious a countable noun?
No, vicious is not a noun.
Is the word Vicious imperative?
No, vicious is not imperative.
What is the first form of Vicious?
Vicious is an adjective and doesn't have verb forms.
Which determiner is used with Vicious?
Determiners like "a", "the", "his", "her", and "their" can be used with "vicious" based on context.
Is Vicious a negative or positive word?
Vicious is generally considered a negative word.
Is the Vicious term a metaphor?
No, "vicious" itself is not a metaphor, but it can be used metaphorically.
How is Vicious used in a sentence?
"The cat displayed a vicious streak when cornered."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
