Pernicious

Having a harmful, destructive, or deadly effect, especially over a long period or in a subtle way.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a seemingly innocent seedling that slowly releases a hidden toxin into the soil, gradually weakening the entire garden bed without anyone noticing at first.

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Sounds Like

PUR-nish-əs

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Looks Like

poisonous (visual/semantic similarity)

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Remember This

Pernicious describes effects or influences that are harmful over time, not necessarily immediate harm. It often appears in discussions of policies, ideas, diseases, or habits that quietly undermine well-being.

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Other Forms

perniciouslyadverb

perniciousnessnoun

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Connect With

harmful, deleterious, injurious, insidious, detrimental

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Note

Not the same as obviously harmful or dangerous; pernicious harm is often subtle and accumulating. Also distinguish from synonyms like 'harmless' or 'benign'.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The pernicious influence of misinformation can erode public trust over time.
The weed released a pernicious chemical that slowly damaged nearby crops.

Synonyms

deleteriousdetrimentalharmfulinjuriousdestructive

Antonyms

benignharmlessinnocuousbeneficial

Etymology

From Latin perniciosus 'ruinous, destructive', from perniciosus meaning ruinous; ultimately from 'pernicies' (ruin, destruction). The word entered English in the 16th century.

Mnemonic

PERNICIOUS: Poisonous Effects Recur, Not Immediately; Causing Irreversible, Ongoing Unhappiness and Suffering.

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Legacy

noun

Something handed down from an ancestor or from the past, such as money or property left in a will, or an enduring cultural, personal, or societal influence.