vicieux

vicious, depraved

adjective vee-SYUH Rare

Origin: Latin vitiosus, from vitium (fault, vice)

Also means

nasty, dirty (informal)

Usage Note

Vicieux has a silent final -x; the feminine form is vicieuse. It can describe a cruel or malicious person, a vicious habit, or — in informal registers — someone with lewd behavior. Un cercle vicieux (a vicious circle) is a common fixed expression. The noun vice (m) shares the root.

Examples

"C'est un cercle vicieux difficile à briser."

Natural Translation

It's a vicious circle that's hard to break.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Le, La, Un, Du: French Articles Made Simple

Le, la, un, du, des made simple: pick the French article family by meaning, the form by gender, and dodge the two mistakes English speakers always make.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

French Greetings: Bonjour, Salut, Coucou Explained

Bonjour, salut, or coucou? Pick the right French greeting every time with a simple two-axis guide to formality and time of day, plus how to say goodbye.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

French Adjective Placement: Before or After the Noun?

French adjectives usually follow the noun, but a small common set goes before it — and a few change meaning depending on which side they sit. Here's the rule.

June 4, 2026 5 min read