Deliberate evil, immorality, or sinfulness; the quality of being cruel or immoral.
From Old English 'wicca' (wizard or sorcerer, with supernatural implications) merged with 'wicked,' originally meaning 'having wicked supernatural nature,' evolving to mean simply 'evil or immoral.'
The word 'wicked' started as describing witches and the supernatural, so 'wickedness' originally meant having demonic or magical evil—showing how fear of the unknown created moral categories.
Religiously and culturally gendered-feminine in damsel/witch narratives ('wicked woman'); women punished for sexuality and autonomy via 'wickedness' label.
Use descriptively for immoral behavior without gendered implication. Apply equally across genders; avoid disproportionate application to women.
["malice","cruelty","immorality"]
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