viciously

/ˈvɪʃəsli/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɪʃəsli] /ˈvɪʃəsli/ (ame, ipa)

viciously — adverb

1. acting or speaking with the clear purpose of making someone feel bad or causing

1.副詞B2
釋義

acting or speaking with the clear purpose of making someone feel bad or causing emotional harm

例句

Asher's classmates laughed viciously when he stumbled and dropped his lunch tray.

laughed viciously — verbal mockery among peers

Jessica's manager criticized her work viciously in front of the entire team.

同義詞
  • cruelly

    more general; can describe any type of harsh treatment

  • maliciously

    suggests a deliberate desire to cause harm, often more formal

  • spitefully

    focuses on personal resentment or petty anger

反義詞
  • kindly

    opposite in terms of showing care and warmth

  • gently

    opposite in manner of treatment

用法筆記

Subject is always a person or group; the cruelty is verbal or emotional rather than physical.

常見錯誤

❌The dog bit him viciously.' (when the focus is physical violence)
✅The bully spoke viciously to him.
💡use sense 1 for emotional/verbal cruelty and sense 2 for physical violence.

2. using physical force in an extreme way that brings severe suffering or bodily in

2.副詞B2
釋義

using physical force in an extreme way that brings severe suffering or bodily injury

例句

The guard dog barked viciously at anyone who came near the gate.

barked viciously at [person/animal] — aggressive animal behaviour

Joaquín was attacked viciously by a group of armed men outside his shop.

同義詞
  • brutally

    stresses the harshness and merciless quality of the act

  • savagely

    suggests wild, uncontrolled violence, often like a wild animal

  • ferociously

    emphasises fierce, intense aggression

反義詞
  • gently

    opposite in degree of force

  • mercifully

    opposite in showing restraint from violence

用法筆記

Commonly used with verbs of physical attack such as attack, beat, bite, or kick. Unlike sense 1, the focus is on bodily harm rather than emotional cruelty.

常見錯誤

❌He shouted viciously at his students.' (when only meaning loudly, not cruelly)
✅He shouted angrily at his students.
💡viciously implies malice or cruelty, not just strong emotion.