Boston meaning
wicked
Very or extremely; also excellent, depending on context.
Uses your device’s built-in voice. Pronunciation is approximate because available voices and boston pronunciation vary.
Meaning
In Boston and across much of New England, wicked commonly works as an intensifier meaning very or extremely. A speaker can say that something is wicked cold, wicked fast, or wicked expensive. Used alone or with positive language, it can also express strong approval.
Pronunciation and grammar
/ˈwɪkɪd/ · adverb and adjective
Informal New England English; strongly associated with Boston in popular culture.
How it is used
The regional sense usually appears before an adjective or adverb. It is informal, expressive, and widely recognized as a New England speech marker, though individual speakers use it with different frequency.
Examples
Local: The Green Line was wicked slow this morning.
Plain English: The Green Line was extremely slow this morning.
Local: That was a wicked good game.
Plain English: That was a very good game.
Important context
Wicked does not mean evil in these examples. The surrounding adjective and tone show whether it means very, extremely, or impressively good.