wicked

/ˈwɪkɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɪkəd] /ˈwɪkɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɪkəd] /ˈwi-kəd/ (ame, mw)

wicked — adjective

  • wickedpositive
  • more wickedcomparative
  • most wickedsuperlative

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

1.形容詞B1
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • virtuous

    formal; describes high moral standards

  • good

    general opposite in everyday usage

文法句型

wicked + noun

be + wicked

用法筆記

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

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞

文法句型

wicked + noun

be + wicked

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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.

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • terrible

    describes something very bad or low quality

文法句型

wicked + noun

be + wicked

absolutely wicked

用法筆記

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).

常見錯誤

❌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.形容詞B2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • mild

    describes something gentle or low in intensity

文法句型

wicked + noun

be + wicked

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.

wicked — adverb