vicious lie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vicious lie" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a falsehood that is particularly harmful or malicious in nature. Example: "The rumors circulating about her were nothing more than a vicious lie meant to tarnish her reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It's a vicious lie".

The New York Times

"That's a vicious lie.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Anwar has described the allegation as a "blatant and vicious lie".

The New York Times

Denying that he had ever had sexual relations with the former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, Mr. Anwar dismissed his accuser's allegations as "a blatant and vicious lie".

The New York Times

The allegations were "a vile and desperate attempt at character assassination" and a "blatant and vicious lie" spread by his political enemies, he said.

The Guardian - Opinion

When Cruise announced last October that he was suing Bauer, his lawyer, Bert Fields, described the claim that the actor had deserted his daughter as a "vicious lie".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The White House spokesman, Robert Gibbs, quickly condemned the remarks as "vicious lies".

The New York Times

It can prompt us to "spread evil, vicious, lying gossip on people, because you are trying to pull them down in order to push yourself up".

The New Yorker

In the interview, Ms. Bachelet said that the accusations against her government had been based on unfounded rumors and vicious lies.

The New York Times

The government, he said, "has been recruiting young college students and filling them with vicious lies about me and the Nation and sending them in to infiltrate us".

The New York Times

Violet is devastated by his death and outraged that his cousin Catharine (Liv Rooth) is telling what Violet is sure are vicious lies about Sebastian's death on vacation the summer before.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "vicious lie", ensure the context clearly indicates the harmful or malicious intent behind the falsehood to emphasize its severity.

Common error

Avoid using "vicious lie" in situations where the falsehood is minor or inconsequential. The phrase implies significant harm, so reserve it for truly damaging or malicious untruths.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vicious lie" functions as a noun phrase where "vicious" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "lie". This construction emphasizes the extremely malicious nature of the falsehood. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and highlights examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vicious lie" is a commonly used phrase to describe a falsehood that is particularly harmful or malicious. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this expression is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media, formal business settings, and even scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants the strong negative connotation it carries. Alternatives such as "malicious falsehood" or "cruel deception" can be used to convey similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Be mindful of overuse in casual conversations and consider other options when describing minor falsehoods.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious falsehood

Replaces "lie" with "falsehood" and "vicious" with "malicious", emphasizing the intent to harm.

cruel deception

Substitutes "vicious" with "cruel" and "lie" with "deception", highlighting the heartless nature of the falsehood.

blatant untruth

Uses "blatant" instead of "vicious" and "untruth" instead of "lie", focusing on the obvious and undeniable nature of the lie.

outright fabrication

Replaces "lie" with "fabrication" and "vicious" with "outright", stressing the complete invention of the falsehood.

deliberate misrepresentation

Substitutes "lie" with "misrepresentation" and "vicious" with "deliberate", highlighting the intentional distortion of the truth.

calculated deceit

Uses "deceit" instead of "lie" and "calculated" instead of "vicious", emphasizing the planned and strategic nature of the lie.

harmful untruth

Focuses on the damaging impact of the falsehood by using "harmful" instead of "vicious" and "untruth" instead of "lie".

pernicious deception

Replaces "vicious" with "pernicious" and "lie" with "deception", highlighting the damaging and subtle nature of the falsehood.

wicked fabrication

Substitutes "vicious" with "wicked" and "lie" with "fabrication", emphasizing the evil and invented nature of the lie.

scathing falsehood

Uses "scathing" instead of "vicious" and "falsehood" instead of "lie", highlighting the severely critical and damaging nature of the lie.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "vicious lie"?

Alternatives include "malicious falsehood", "cruel deception", or "blatant untruth", each emphasizing different aspects of the falsehood's harmful nature.

How does the intensity of "vicious lie" compare to other similar phrases?

"Vicious lie" suggests a particularly damaging and malicious untruth, stronger than simply calling something a "lie". It implies a deliberate intent to cause harm through deception.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "vicious lie"?

Use "vicious lie" when describing a falsehood that has serious negative consequences or is spread with malicious intent. It's common in news reports, legal contexts, and discussions of ethical breaches.

Can "vicious lie" be used to describe unintentional falsehoods?

No, "vicious lie" implies intent. If a statement is false but not intended to deceive or harm, other terms like "mistake", "error", or "misunderstanding" are more appropriate.