VICE Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

vice

noun

ˈvīs

Definition of vice

as in corruption

immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society that section of the city is legendary for crime and vice

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as in weakness

a defect in character curiosity in children is not a vice, but something to be encouraged

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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

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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

Democrats have targeted Paxton, who is benefiting from millions in outside spending, over corruption claims and his impeachment by the Texas Legislature, though he was later acquitted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Even leftist lawmakers support to some of those ideas in the wake of a corruption scandal that ensnared the court.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of corruption

Noun

York was suspended for six games and fined $500,000 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after being arrested in a prostitution sting in Ohio in August.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Convicted by a New York City jury of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution in July 2025 at the end of lurid and violence-detailing trial, Combs was sentenced in September 2025 to a 50-month stint with time served.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of prostitution

Noun

Formerly, Christians were taught that greed--that is, the immoderate pursuit and love of money--was a sin.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Per the official logline, in the final season, as the survivors race to bury their sins before rescue arrives and an old flame roars back into town with plans of her own.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sin

Noun

At the heart of this work was a fundamental question about good and evil.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Wright also interrogates the boundary between severe mental illness and evil, and wonders whether, even in extreme cases, redemption might be possible.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of evil

Noun

Conversations with my replacement confirmed that local physicians were frustrated with Theranos over these shortcomings and communicating with our laboratory about them.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
For residents, the reservoir nonetheless remains a painfully visible symbol of the city’s shortcomings.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of shortcoming

Noun

Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).

— Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026

Definition of immorality

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.

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Style

“Vice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vice. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of vice

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Synonyms of vice

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