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Synonyms

wicked

American  
[wik-id] / ˈwɪk ɪd /

adjective

wickeder, wickedest
  1. evil or morally bad in principle or practice; sinful; iniquitous.

    wicked people;

    wicked habits.

    Synonyms:
    villainous, infamous, heinous, dissolute, depraved, corrupt, profligate, immoral, blasphemous, profane, impious, godless, ungodly, unrighteous
    Antonyms:
    virtuous, good
  2. mischievous or playfully malicious.

    These wicked kittens upset everything.

  3. distressingly severe, as a storm, wound, or cold.

    a wicked winter.

  4. passing reasonable bounds; intolerably bad.

    wicked prices;

    a wicked exam.

  5. having a bad disposition; ill-natured; mean.

    a wicked horse.

  6. spiteful; malevolent; vicious.

    a wicked tongue.

  7. extremely troublesome or dangerous.

    wicked roads.

  8. unpleasant; foul.

    a wicked odor.

  9. Slang. wonderful; great; masterful; deeply satisfying.

    He blows a wicked trumpet.


adverb

  1. Slang. very; really; totally.

    That shirt is wicked cool.

wicked British  
/ ˈwɪkɪd /

adjective

    1. morally bad in principle or practice

    2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the wicked

  1. mischievous or roguish, esp in a playful way

    a wicked grin

  2. causing injury or harm

  3. troublesome, unpleasant, or offensive

  4. slang very good

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What are other ways to say wicked?

Someone or something wicked is morally bad in principle or practice. But calling someone or something wicked isn’t quite the same as calling them bad, evil, or ill. Find out why on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

  • quasi-wicked adjective
  • quasi-wickedly adverb
  • unwicked adjective
  • unwickedly adverb
  • wickedly adverb
  • wickedness noun

Etymology

Origin of wicked

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English wikked, equivalent to wikke “bad” (representing adjective use of Old English wicca “wizard”; witch ) + -ed -ed 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cumming’s host persona may not be evil per se, but he is wicked enough for his beloved pooch, Lala, to look absolutely angelic trotting next to him.

From Salon

In Hamburg, Leipzig took the lead with 66 minutes gone when Diomande's speculative effort took a wicked deflection and landed in the net.

From Barron's

It would mention his role in drafting the Fairfax Resolves at Mount Vernon in 1774, which condemned the slave trade as “wicked cruel and unnatural” and called for putting “an entire Stop” to it.

From The Wall Street Journal

“La Malinche was not a wicked person. On the contrary, I would say that her intelligence places her among the great women in the history of Mexico.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Hammers were again inspired by captain Bowen, who contributed a goal from the penalty spot after an assist for Summerville with a wicked cross.

From BBC