Vicious
Vicious adjective - Having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it.
Usage example: he spread vicious rumors about his ex-wife after their bitter divorce
Virulent is a synonym for vicious in hostile topic. In some cases you can use "Virulent" instead an adjective "Vicious", when it comes to topics like malicious, malevolent.
Nearby Word: viciously
Virulent
Virulent adjective - Having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it.
Usage example: the virulent look on her face warned me that she was about to say something unkind
Vicious is a synonym for virulent in hostile topic. You can use "Vicious" instead an adjective "Virulent", if it concerns topics such as vitriolic, malevolent.
Nearby Word: virulence
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Virulent and Vicious. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/vicious/virulent
Vicious & Virulent. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/vicious/virulent>.
Virulent or Vicious. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/vicious/virulent.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "vicious" and "virulent" have occurred on timeline