vicious

Everyday

1. Cruel and wanting to hurt; violent: a vicious attack. tree →
2. (of an animal) Dangerous and likely to bite or attack. tree →
3. Very strong or severe: a vicious storm, a vicious headache. tree →
4. «A vicious circle» is a bad situation where one problem causes another that makes the first worse. tree →

In the lessons

In stories: a vicious dog or villain shows danger. In news: vicious attacks or rumours. In safety: keep away from a dog that growls. In everyday life: «vicious circle» explains how problems feed each other.

Examples

• The vicious dog was kept behind a high fence. tree →
• Spreading vicious rumours is a kind of bullying. tree →
• A vicious wind blew the roof tiles off. tree →
• She has a vicious cough. tree →
• Not sleeping made him tired, and being tired made him unable to sleep: a vicious circle. tree →
• The villain gave a vicious laugh. tree →
• But soon after his father died, and his mother got married again to a man that turned out to be a very vicious step-father, who couldn't abide the little boy. tree →

Note

Say VISH-us. Noun: viciousness. Do not confuse «vicious» with «viscous» (thick, slow-flowing, like honey). Takes «a»: a vicious dog.