Visious vs. Vicious — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 25, 2024
"Visious" is incorrect, while "Vicious" is the correct spelling, denoting something cruel or violent.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Visious or Vicious
How to spell Vicious?
Visious
Incorrect Spelling
Vicious
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Remember "Vicious" starts with a "Vic-" like "Victim," something it often creates.
Think of the word "Vice," a moral failing, as a way to remember the first three letters.
"Vicious" has a "c," just like "cruel," which it means.
"Visious" is visually suspicious; if it looks wrong, it probably is.
Associate "Vicious" with "malicious," another word for cruelty that also has a "c."
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How Do You Spell Vicious Correctly?
Incorrect: She spread visious rumors that hurt many people.
Correct: She spread vicious rumors that hurt many people.
Incorrect: He was known for his visious behavior towards others.
Correct: He was known for his vicious behavior towards others.
Incorrect: The storm turned visious, causing widespread damage.
Correct: The storm turned vicious, causing widespread damage.
Incorrect: The dog had a visious look in its eyes.
Correct: The dog had a vicious look in its eyes.
Incorrect: Their rivalry became increasingly visious over time.
Correct: Their rivalry became increasingly vicious over time.
Vicious Definitions
Deliberately malicious or harmful.
She spread vicious rumors about her colleague.
Exhibiting reprehensible behavior.
He engaged in a vicious attack against his opponent.
Characterized by violence or cruelty.
The dog was vicious and had to be restrained.
Having a violent or ferocious disposition.
The vicious storm wreaked havoc on the coastal town.
Extreme and intense, usually in a negative sense.
He found himself caught in a vicious cycle of debt.
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
Vicious Meaning in a Sentence
Wolves can become vicious if they feel threatened.
The movie villain's plan was particularly vicious and cruel.
The vicious cycle of poverty traps many families for generations.
The debate turned vicious when personal attacks were made.
The guard dog was trained to be vicious against intruders.
The competition among the players was so vicious that it ended friendships.
The wind howled with a vicious intensity that night.
That was a vicious attack; I hope the victim recovers soon.
He was sentenced for his role in the vicious crime spree.
A vicious circle of debt and borrowing can be hard to break.
Her words were vicious, cutting deeper than any knife.
The critic's review was so vicious that it caused controversy.
The winter storm was so vicious that it closed all the roads.
The novel's antagonist is a vicious tyrant who rules with fear.
He launched a vicious campaign against his political opponent.
Vicious rumors can destroy someone's reputation overnight.
The disease spread with vicious speed through the population.
Vicious lies have the power to tear apart communities.
Social media can sometimes be a platform for vicious bullying.
The storm's vicious winds tore roofs off houses.
The boxer's punch was vicious, ending the match in seconds.
A vicious animal is one that is dangerous and aggressive.
In the wild, survival often depends on being vicious.
The market can be a vicious place for new businesses.
Vicious fighting broke out in the streets during the protest.
Vicious Idioms & Phrases
Vicious competition
Competition that is so intense that participants may use harmful tactics.
The bid for the contract turned into vicious competition between the firms.
Vicious circle
Similar to a vicious cycle, it's a complex or unwelcome situation from which it is hard to escape.
He found himself in a vicious circle of debt and borrowing.
Vicious storm
A storm that is extremely violent and destructive.
The coastal village braced itself for the vicious storm approaching.
Vicious rumor
A malicious and harmful rumor intended to damage someone's reputation.
Vicious rumors spread quickly through the office, causing distress.
Vicious attack
An act of violence that is fierce and cruel.
The victim was left in critical condition after the vicious attack.
Vicious lie
A lie that is particularly harmful and spiteful.
The politician's career was nearly ruined by a vicious lie spread by opponents.
A vicious cycle
A situation in which a problem causes a problem, which then aggravates the first problem.
Skipping classes leads to poor grades, which then discourages attendance even more, creating a vicious cycle.
Vicious laughter
Laughter that is mocking and mean-spirited.
The villain's victory was accompanied by vicious laughter.
Vicious cycle of violence
A situation where violence leads to more violence in a repeating pattern.
The community is struggling to break the vicious cycle of violence that has taken hold.
Vicious glare
A fierce and intimidating look meant to convey anger or hostility.
She silenced the room with a vicious glare.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of Vicious?
There isn't a direct verb form of "vicious"; however, "victimize" could be used contextually.
Why is it called Vicious?
The term "vicious" comes from the Latin word "vitiosus," meaning "full of vices."
What is the singular form of Vicious?
The word "vicious" is an adjective and does not have a singular or plural form.
Which preposition is used with Vicious?
"Of" as in "cycle of viciousness" or "in" as in "vicious in nature."
Which conjunction is used with Vicious?
Any conjunction can be used depending on the context, such as "and," "or," or "but."
What is the plural form of Vicious?
Adjectives don't have plural forms in English.
What is the root word of Vicious?
The root word is "vice."
Which article is used with Vicious?
"A" or "the" can be used depending on the context.
What is the pronunciation of Vicious?
It's pronounced as /ˈvɪʃəs/.
Which vowel is used before Vicious?
The vowel "a" is commonly used, as in "a vicious cycle."
Is Vicious a noun or adjective?
"Vicious" is an adjective.
Is Vicious an abstract noun?
No, it's an adjective.
Is Vicious a vowel or consonant?
"Vicious" is a word containing both vowels and consonants.
Is Vicious a countable noun?
No, "vicious" is an adjective and is not countable.
Which determiner is used with Vicious?
"This," "that," "these," "those" can be used, depending on the context.
Is Vicious an adverb?
No, "vicious" is not an adverb.
Is Vicious a negative or positive word?
"Vicious" is generally considered a negative word.
Is the Vicious term a metaphor?
No, unless used in a figurative context.
What is another term for Vicious?
Another term could be "cruel" or "malicious."
What is the opposite of Vicious?
The opposite could be "kind" or "gentle."
How many syllables are in Vicious?
Two syllables.
What is the first form of Vicious?
"Vicious" doesn't have verb forms, as it's an adjective.
What is the second form of Vicious?
N/A, as "vicious" is an adjective.
How is Vicious used in a sentence?
"The gossip turned vicious, damaging many friendships."
Is Vicious a collective noun?
No, it's an adjective.
Is the word Vicious is imperative?
No, it's not imperative.
Is the word “Vicious” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Vicious" is an adjective, not an object.
How do we divide Vicious into syllables?
Vi-cious.
What is a stressed syllable in Vicious?
The first syllable "Vi-" is stressed.
What part of speech is Vicious?
Adjective.
What is the third form of Vicious?
N/A, as "vicious" is an adjective.
Is the word Vicious is Gerund?
No, it's an adjective.
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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.
