vicious

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vi|cious /v'ɪʃəs/
1 [ADJ]
A vicious person or a vicious blow is violent and cruel.
He was a cruel and vicious man...
He suffered a vicious attack by a gang of white youths...
The blow was so sudden and vicious that he dropped to his knees.
= brutal
● viciously [ADV] usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
She had been viciously attacked with a hammer.
● viciousness [N-UNCOUNT]
...the intensity and viciousness of these attacks.
2 [ADJ]
A vicious remark is cruel and intended to upset someone.
It is a deliberate, nasty and vicious attack on a young man's character.
= savage
● viciously [ADV] ADV with v
`He deserved to die,' said Penelope viciously.vi|cious cir|cle (vicious circles)
or vicious cycle
[N-COUNT] usu sing, oft N of n
A vicious circle is a problem or difficult situation that has the effect of creating new problems which then cause the original problem or situation to occur again.
The more pesticides are used, the more resistant the insects become so the more pesticides have to be used. It's a vicious circle.
≠ virtuous circle

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