Pronunciation: [vˈɪʃəs] (IPA) 
The word "vicious" is pronounced /ˈvɪʃəs/ (VISH-uhs). The sound "sh" is spelled with the letters "sh" in English. The "i" in "vicious" is pronounced as the short "i" sound, while the "o" in "vicious" is pronounced as the short "u" sound. The "s" at the end of "vicious" is pronounced with a soft "s" sound, which is indicated by the letter "s". The overall spelling of "vicious" follows the pattern of English spelling rules.
Vicious is an adjective that describes something or someone exhibiting or engaging in cruel, brutal, or violent behavior. The term is commonly used to describe actions, habits, or conduct that is intentionally harmful or destructive towards others. It can also refer to a person who demonstrates a severe and aggressive nature, often acting with a lack of empathy or regard for others' well-being.
In the context of animals, "vicious" may pertain to creatures that display hostile, menacing, or aggressive behavior, making them dangerous to approach or handle. A vicious animal can pose a significant threat to both humans and other animals, potentially causing harm or injury if provoked or encountered inappropriately.
Furthermore, "vicious" can extend beyond the physical realm to describe attitudes or actions that aim to harm someone emotionally or mentally. This may involve spreading malicious rumors, engaging in verbal abuse, or displaying an unrelenting hostility towards others.
The term can also be used metaphorically to describe things that are excessively severe, intense, or harmful. For instance, one might refer to a vicious storm or a vicious circle to convey the idea of a situation or condition that is extremely tumultuous, harsh, or difficult to escape from.
Overall, when something or someone is described as vicious, it suggests they possess an inclination towards brutal or harmful behavior, either physically, emotionally, or metaphorically.
• Having a vice or defect; depraved; corrupt in conduct.
• See under vico 4.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "vicious" has its roots in the Latin word "viciosus", which means "faulty, defective, or corrupt". It is derived from the Latin noun "vitium", meaning "fault". Over time, the meaning of "vicious" expanded to include the sense of "ruthlessly aggressive" or "ferocious", often associated with the behavior of animals. This eventually extended to include describing people who display violent or cruel tendencies.
