vice

1
2
3
as in prostitution
the practice of engaging in sexual activities for money a seedy section of the city where vice is rampant and very much out in the open

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun vice contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of vice are crime, offense, scandal, and sin. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

When would crime be a good substitute for vice?

The meanings of crime and vice largely overlap; however, crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When is it sensible to use offense instead of vice?

While in some cases nearly identical to vice, offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

When could scandal be used to replace vice?

The words scandal and vice can be used in similar contexts, but scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

In what contexts can sin take the place of vice?

In some situations, the words sin and vice are roughly equivalent. However, sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vice
Noun
  • The mayor has been under sharp scrutiny since President Trump’s Department Justice Department last week ordered prosecutors in his federal corruption case to drop the criminal charges against him.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Four deputy mayors from New York City Mayor Eric Adams' administration resigned Monday after the Justice Department moved to dismiss Adams' corruption case.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Oklahoma City addressed most of its playoff weaknesses from last May.
    Nick Crain, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
  • This Jayhawks squad lacks the right pieces around Harris and Adams — players who could amplify their strengths while covering for some of their weaknesses.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The men face charges of solicitation of prostitution, a felony in Texas punishable with up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
    Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 5 Apr. 2023
  • Street prostitution has been an issue on Capp Street in the Mission District for decades.
    Fifth & Mission Podcast, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Feb. 2023
Noun
  • The cityscape is comparable to Las Vegas, without the sin of course.
    Joe Yogerst, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • In Terror at the Gates, Lilith Leviathan, on the run from her powerful family, arrives in Ninevah, a district of Eden that’s known for its taste for sin.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Southern California Edison detected a fault on its transmission system near the time of the start of the Eaton Fire, according to a company filing with state regulators.
    Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
  • This is not entirely my fault—I was raised with E.R. reruns as background noise thanks to my mom, a fellow med-TV devotee—but by age 11, I was fully bought into the froth, fun, and occasionally frantic energy that accompanied our culture’s collective obsession with Grey’s Anatomy.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Determined to rid their house of evil, Malcolm turns to unconventional ghost hunters, priests and psychics, leading to a series of increasingly absurd attempts to exorcise the demon.
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
  • One of the lessons Albus and Scorpius learn along the way is the difficulty in distinguishing by appearance good from evil.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Profligacy in front of goal has curtailed league form and emphasised defensive shortcomings.
    Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Congo's military, despite its size and funding, has long been hindered by shortcomings in training and coordination and recurring reports of corruption.
    JUSTIN KABUMBA, arkansasonline.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Variety learned the actor is currently accused of propaganda against the Iranian regime and promoting immorality through her role in Rasoulof’s latest.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
  • The film cares more for Romy’s enveloping sense of self than the depths of her immorality.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Vice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vice. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!