wicked

wicked — adjective

1. Deliberately cruel or morally wrong in a serious way, often causing harm to othe

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Deliberately cruel or morally wrong in a serious way, often causing harm to others.

Example

The wicked stepmother locked the children in the cold cellar all night.

storybook context: wicked + person noun

Gita said that greed turns ordinary people into wicked creatures.

Common collocations
  • wicked person
  • wicked deed
  • wicked act
  • wicked scheme
  • wicked ruler
Synonyms
  • evil

    more formal and absolute; 'evil' suggests a deeper, more fundamental moral corruption

  • sinful

    religious register; implies wrongdoing against divine law

  • corrupt

    focuses on dishonesty and moral decay, especially in positions of power

  • cruel

    emphasises the deliberate infliction of pain or suffering

Antonyms
  • virtuous

    formal; describes high moral standards

  • good

    general opposite in everyday usage

Grammar Patterns

wicked + noun

be + wicked

Usage Note

Common in fairy tales, religious texts, and discussions of genuine cruelty. Stronger than 'bad' — implies intent to harm others.

Common Mistakes

The wicked weather ruined our picnic.
The weather was wicked
for bad weather, use Sense 4 (extremely unpleasant); Sense 1 applies to people or actions that are morally evil.

2. Slightly bad or mischievous in a playful, appealing way — not seriously harmful

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Slightly bad or mischievous in a playful, appealing way — not seriously harmful or cruel.

Example

Caio gave her a wicked grin and said he had a secret plan.

collocation: wicked grin

Selim told a wicked joke that made everyone blush and laugh at the same time.

Common collocations
  • wicked grin
  • wicked sense of humour
  • wicked smile
  • wicked pleasure
  • wicked charm
Synonyms
  • mischievous

    more neutral; can describe children or playful adults

  • roguish

    implies charm and a playful, dishonest quality; slightly old-fashioned

  • naughty

    milder; often used for children's minor rule-breaking

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

wicked + noun

be + wicked

Usage Note

Often appears in fixed collocations: 'wicked grin,' 'wicked sense of humour,' 'wicked charm.' The tone is playful, not serious — the person is being mischievous rather than truly bad.

Common Mistakes

He gave her a wicked smile, meaning he wanted to hurt her.
He gave her a wicked grin, and she knew he was up to something fun.
A wicked smile can suggest cruelty (Sense 1); a wicked grin or laugh suggests playful mischief (Sense 2). Context and facial expressions carry the difference.

3. Very good, impressive, or enjoyable — used as enthusiastic slang, especially amo

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

Very good, impressive, or enjoyable — used as enthusiastic slang, especially among younger speakers.

Example

Jin played a wicked guitar solo that made the whole crowd cheer.

slang: wicked + noun = excellent

Valentina said the new café makes a wicked cup of coffee.

Common collocations
  • wicked guitar solo
  • wicked cup of coffee
  • wicked sneakers
  • wicked party
  • absolutely wicked
Synonyms
  • awesome

    wider register; used in both American and British English

  • brilliant

    common in British English; slightly more formal than 'wicked'

  • amazing

    standard English; works in any register

Antonyms
  • terrible

    describes something very bad or low quality

Grammar Patterns

wicked + noun

be + wicked

absolutely wicked

Usage Note

Predominantly British and Australian slang. Avoid in formal writing, academic contexts, or when speaking to older audiences who may interpret it as Sense 1 (evil).

Common Mistakes

The wicked weather has cancelled all flights.' (intending Sense 3: excellent weather).
The weather was wicked
we went to the beach all day.' — For excellent weather, put 'wicked' after the verb and provide positive context. Pre-noun position often signals Sense 1 or 4 instead.

4. Extremely unpleasant, harmful, or intense in degree — used to describe pain, wea

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

Extremely unpleasant, harmful, or intense in degree — used to describe pain, weather, smells, or other negative experiences at a high level.

Example

A wicked wind tore through the town and knocked down power lines.

collocation: wicked wind / wicked storm

Quinn felt a wicked pain in her foot after stepping on a sharp nail.

collocation: wicked pain

Common collocations
  • wicked wind
  • wicked pain
  • wicked headache
  • wicked smell
  • wicked storm
  • wicked kick (of spice)
Synonyms
  • severe

    more formal; standard for describing pain and weather

  • fierce

    suggests wild or violent intensity, especially of nature

  • vicious

    implies deliberately harsh or brutal force

Antonyms
  • mild

    describes something gentle or low in intensity

Grammar Patterns

wicked + noun

be + wicked

Usage Note

Describes physical sensations and natural forces at an extreme level. Common with nouns like 'pain,' 'headache,' 'wind,' 'storm,' 'smell,' and 'kick' (of spice or alcohol). Not used for abstract moral judgments — that is Sense 1.

Common Mistakes

He is a wicked person because he shouts loudly.
He is a wicked person because he cheated the old woman out of her savings.
Sense 4 applies to things (pain, weather), not to people. Calling a person 'wicked' uses Sense 1 (morally evil) and requires serious wrongdoing, not just being loud or unpleasant.

Word family

  • wickedly
    adverbB2
  • wickedness
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe morally bad behaviour, but they differ in register and scope. 'Wicked' (Sense 1) is the most versatile everyday term, covering deliberate cruelty from fairy-tale villains to real-world wrongdoers. 'Evil' is more absolute and formal — it suggests a deep, fundamental corruption that 'wicked' does not always imply ('wicked' can be playful in other senses). 'Sinful' belongs to a religious register, describing actions that violate divine law. 'Immoral' is the most neutral and analytical term, used in ethics and philosophy to describe actions that go against accepted moral principles. 'Corrupt' focuses on dishonesty and decay of integrity, especially within institutions or positions of power. For example: a judge who takes bribes is 'corrupt'; a person who murders for pleasure is 'evil'; a child who steals cookies is 'wicked' only in the playful sense; someone who lies on a tax return is acting 'immorally'; and skipping church might be called 'sinful' in a religious community.

evil ↗sinful ↗wicked ↗immoralcorrupt ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • quite wicked
  • truly wicked
  • really wicked
  • so wicked
  • absolutely wicked

Phrases

  • wicked and cruel
  • something wicked this way comes

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'wicked' comes from Middle English 'wicked' (also 'wicced'), likely an extension of Old English 'wicca' (witch) with the adjective suffix '-ed'. Originally it meant 'having the qualities of a witch' — practicing sorcery or being in league with evil forces. By the 13th century, the meaning had broadened to refer to anyone who was morally bad or evil. The milder, playful sense (now Sense 2) emerged by the 16th century, describing a mischievous or roguish quality. The slang sense meaning 'excellent' (Sense 3) developed in 20th-century British and American slang, following a pattern where words for 'bad' flip to mean 'good' in youth slang. The intensity sense (Sense 4) grew from the idea of something so bad it becomes extreme — a 'wicked storm' is a storm that is as dangerous as a wicked person.