Amazing vs That was wicked

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Amazing

Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective

That was wicked

InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: AmazingMost common: Amazing
 AmazingThat was wicked
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //ðæt wəz ˈwɪkɪd//🇺🇸 //ðæt wəz ˈwɪkəd//
Meaningvery good or impressiveThat was great or amazing.
ExampleThe view from the mountain top was simply amazing.That roller coaster was wicked!
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, look, sound, absolutely, pretty, rather, be nothing short of amazingwicked awesome, wicked cool, wicked fun, wicked good, wicked smart
Antonymsordinary, unremarkable, boring-
Common mistakesOverusing it for average things., Confusing it with 'amaze' as a verb., Using it in negative contexts incorrectly.Confused with 'wicked' meaning evil., Overused in contexts where a more serious comment is appropriate., Used inappropriately in very formal settings.
Usage notesUse 'amazing' to describe something that exceeds expectations. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it excessively in formal writing.Used in casual conversation, particularly among younger speakers. Not suitable for formal situations.

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Amazing
That was wicked

Frequently asked questions: Amazing vs That was wicked

What's the difference between Amazing and That was wicked?

Amazing: very good or impressive That was wicked: That was great or amazing.

Which is more formal: Amazing and That was wicked?

Amazing is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Amazing and That was wicked?

Amazing is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Amazing: The view from the mountain top was simply amazing. That was wicked: That roller coaster was wicked!

Can I use Amazing and That was wicked interchangeably?

Not always. Amazing and That was wicked are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.