criminal and vicious share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. criminal means “bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure”. vicious means “(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering”. criminal is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkɹɪmənəl/
1.adj.bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
“a criminal waste of talent”
2.adj.guilty of crime or serious offense
“criminal in the sight of God and man”
3.adj.involving or being or having the nature of a crime
“a criminal offense”
| criminal | vicious | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪmənəl/ | /ˈvɪʃəs/ |
| Said | KRIM-uh-nuhl | VISH-uhs |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Letters | 8 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | adjective, noun | adjective |
| Senses | 4 | 4 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | condemnable, deplorable, reprehensible | barbarous, brutal, cruel |
Full entry for criminal · Full entry for vicious · More comparisons
/ˈvɪʃəs/
1.adj.(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
“a barbarous crime”
2.adj.having the nature of vice
3.adj.bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
“a criminal waste of talent”