vicious

BrE /ˈvaɪʃəs/ AmE /ˈvaɪʃəs/

adjective en → es

1 CRUEL/MEAN [attributive / predicative] B2

showing or having a desire to cause pain, suffering, or injury; cruel and violent

cruel, malvado, feroz

  • a vicious attack/person/act

Collocations vicious cycle · vicious circle

  • The prisoner was beaten by a vicious guard.

    El prisionero fue golpeado por un guardia cruel.

2 BITING [attributive / predicative] B2

describing an animal that bites or is likely to bite, especially a dog

agresivo, mordedor

  • a vicious dog
  • The dog was vicious and had to be put down.

    El perro era agresivo y tuvieron que sacrificarlo.

3 SEVERE [attributive / predicative] B2

describing a storm, wind, etc. that is very strong and violent

feroz, violento

  • a vicious storm/wind
  • The hurricane was a vicious storm.

    El huracán fue una tormenta violenta.

4 NEGATIVE [attributive / predicative] B2

describing something that is very bad or harmful; extremely unpleasant

negativo, perjudicial

  • a vicious disease
  • The disease was a vicious one.

    La enfermedad era muy perjudicial.

5 DISPARAGING [attributive / predicative] C1

used to describe something that is said or written in order to criticize someone or something severely; harshly critical

despectivo, mordaz

  • a vicious attack/criticism
  • The article was a vicious criticism of the mayor.

    El artículo fue una crítica mordaz del alcalde.

6 COUNTERPRODUCTIVE [attributive / predicative] C1

describing an action or situation that is likely to make a problem worse rather than better; counterproductive

contraproducente, perjudicial

  • a vicious cycle
  • The situation was a vicious circle.

    La situación era un círculo vicioso.

7 BITING [attributive / predicative] C1

describing words or comments that are sharp and hurtful; biting

mordaz, hiriente

  • a vicious remark
  • She made a vicious comment about his appearance.

    Ella hizo un comentario hiriente sobre su apariencia.

8 NEGATIVE [attributive / predicative] C1

describing something that is very bad or harmful; extremely unpleasant

negativo, perjudicial

  • a vicious disease
  • The disease was a vicious one.

    La enfermedad era muy perjudicial.