1
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
simple viciousness can be the only reason for spreading such vile, unfounded rumors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
the unspeakable viciousness of some dictators in the past
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for viciousness
Noun
-
Colt has been indicted on 55 felony counts, including four counts of malice murder, according to court documents, and has pleaded not guilty.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
6 May 2025 -
Without it, little remained but his malice, his pettiness, and his insatiable appetite for revenge.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
His father, Colin Gray, 54, has been indicted on 29 felonies including two counts of second-degree murder, four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children.—
Devon M. Sayers,
CNN Money,
6 May 2025
-
Is the austerity of her work simply regurgitated cruelty?—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
6 May 2025
Noun
-
The animal’s blood is drawn and purified to obtain antibodies that act against the venom.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
-
This process helped the research team assemble a cocktail that had the minimum number of components that were still sufficient enough to render the venom.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
The Israeli government is indeed openly promising to commit horrific crimes against Palestinian civilians — brutality even above what the world has seen for the past year and a half.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
12 May 2025
-
Set in Los Angeles in 2018, with police brutality and the early stages of the Black Lives Matter movement very firmly part of its zeitgeist, Forever begins with Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) unexpectedly reconnecting at a New Year’s Eve party.—
Ebonie Walker,
Refinery29,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Heiss said that nothing would be so devastating as to have earned Prima’s hatred.—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
4 May 2025
-
While Brandon Hagel has been suspended and a number of jarring hits have taken place, there is another level of intensity and hatred around the corner.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Viciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/viciousness. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share