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

Derived Forms

• ˈwickedness, noun
• ˈwickedly, adverb

Other Word Forms

• wick·ed·ly adverb
• qua·si-wick·ed adjective
• qua·si-wick·ed·ly adverb
• un·wick·ed adjective
• un·wick·ed·ly adverb

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

Before long, Gaga’s version of her wicked queen sniffs out her prey.

From Salon

"She's a beautiful girl, she was a bright little button, she had a wicked laugh", says Emily.

From BBC

For the first time, he got to go on the attack — as Roberts had hoped he would pregame — and use his wicked splitter as the putaway weapon it’s intended to be.

From Los Angeles Times

He recalls how the star had set him at ease and made him laugh with his "wicked sense of humour" when he was a nervous young actor on his first production.

From BBC

The woman appears out of nowhere with elusive purpose, taunting Ramona — who is hobbled by the broken leg she sustained in the car wreck that took David's life — warning, “Today’s the day,” in wicked sing-song.

From Salon

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.