wicked streak

USAGE SUMMARY

'wicked streak' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to someone's bad or immoral behaviour. For example: "She had a wicked streak in her that often led her astray."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A perceived wicked streak is somewhat frowned upon".

The Guardian

Be it hormones or just a wicked streak, there are plenty of evil, crazy women scattered throughout literature.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But he also has a wicked comedic streak, as evidenced by his song "Fountains of Wayne Hotline," about a phone-in songwriting clinic.

The New York Times

Her spouse ended up to be an addict with a wicked mean streak.

Huffington Post

Apparently, Katherine is feeling some repercussions from Silas draining her body of blood because she has a wicked Rogue-esque gray streak in her hair and later in the episode her tooth falls out.

Huffington Post

It's not just for the players' wives, or even for the women fans, but for all the women who don't have husbands with pro football salaries, just a mean streak and a wicked left hook.

Huffington Post

But the Rude Mechs' wicked sense of humor tempers a sincere streak that the company wears like a badge of honor.

The New York Times

He's outstanding, a precursor of Graham Greene's Pinkie, a wicked boy with a blonde (or grey) streak in his hair.

The Guardian - Film

Silva's got a wicked sense of humor as well as a carefully refined sadistic streak that keeps the body count climbing.

Los Angeles Times

His independence from the new management reinforced Mr. Bewkes's image as a different kind of corporate executive, one with a wicked sense of humor that matched the earthy comedy of his network and a streak of confident anti-authoritarianism.

The New York Times

BRANTLEY -- "Wicked".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wicked streak" to describe a hidden or occasional tendency towards bad or mischievous behavior, rather than a constant characteristic. It implies a surprising or unexpected element of wickedness.

Common error

Avoid using "wicked streak" to describe minor or trivial misdeeds. The phrase implies a significant degree of immorality or harmful intent, so reserve it for genuinely problematic behaviors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wicked streak" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object within a sentence. It describes a particular aspect of someone's character or behavior, highlighting a tendency toward wickedness. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wicked streak" is a noun phrase used to describe a tendency towards bad or mischievous behavior. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While grammatically sound, the phrase appears relatively rarely, primarily in news and media contexts. Related phrases include "naughty tendency" and "evil disposition", each offering a slightly different nuance. When using "wicked streak", it's crucial to consider the intensity of the behavior being described and avoid applying it to trivial misdeeds. Ludwig's analysis indicates that the phrase effectively conveys a hidden or occasional inclination toward wickedness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mean streak

Simply replaces "wicked" with "mean", retaining the structure and implying a less intense form of bad behavior.

naughty tendency

Replaces "wicked" with "naughty" and "streak" with "tendency", softening the tone slightly but retaining the core meaning of a disposition towards misbehavior.

mischievous inclination

Substitutes "wicked" with "mischievous" and "streak" with "inclination", emphasizing a playful rather than malevolent nature.

villainous bent

Substitutes "wicked" with "villainous" and "streak" with "bent", suggesting a predisposition towards evil actions.

evil disposition

Replaces "wicked streak" with "evil disposition", highlighting the inherent nature of the malevolence.

cruel tendency

Changes "wicked" to "cruel", focusing on the harmful aspect of the behavior.

immoral nature

Replaces "wicked streak" with "immoral nature", emphasizing the unethical aspect of the behavior.

corrupt tendency

Changes "wicked" to "corrupt", focusing on the moral decay aspect of the behavior.

dark side

Uses the metaphor "dark side" to represent the wicked aspect, shifting the focus from a specific behavior to a general characteristic.

bad habit

Replaces "wicked streak" with a more general "bad habit", diluting the intensity of the original phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "wicked streak" in a sentence?

You can use "wicked streak" to describe a person's tendency toward mischievous or immoral behavior. For example, "Despite his outward charm, he had a /s/mean+streak that surfaced occasionally".

What's a similar phrase to "wicked streak"?

Alternatives include "/s/naughty+tendency", "/s/mischievous+inclination", or "/s/evil+disposition", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "wicked streak" a formal or informal expression?

"Wicked streak" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both informal and formal contexts. However, the level of formality depends on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "wicked streak" and "/s/mean+streak"?

While both phrases indicate an unpleasant or harmful characteristic, "wicked streak" suggests a deeper, more malevolent inclination than "mean streak", which may imply simple unkindness or spitefulness.