wicked

[wik-id]

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

/ ˈwɪkɪd /

adjective

1. 1. morally bad in principle or practice

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the wicked

2. mischievous or roguish, esp in a playful way

   a wicked grin

3. causing injury or harm

4. troublesome, unpleasant, or offensive

5. slang,  very good

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wicked¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wicked¹

C13: from dialect wick, from Old English wicca sorcerer, wicce _witch ¹

Example Sentences

Yet his popularity among White Christians has not suffered; if anything, he fits their “Cyrus prophecy” about how wicked men can be used to fulfill God’s plans for the nation.

From Salon

Epic musicals involving witches, wicked or otherwise, will find their conclusions.

From Los Angeles Times

He knocked in his team’s second run on another single in the second inning, spinning Freeland around with a wicked shot back through the box.

From Los Angeles Times

He was again found guilty and ordered to serve at least 17 years in prison for what the judge described as a "shocking and wicked" crime.

From BBC

They had a wicked sense of humor about the performance too.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• devilish 
• evil 
• impish 
• mischievous 
• nasty 
• naughty 
• vicious 
• villainous 
• wayward 

When To Use

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.