Pernicious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /pər-ˈni-shəs/ per·ni·cious

Meaning & Definition of Pernicious

Pernicious (adjective)

  1. highly damaging or destructive often in a way that is not easily seen or noticed
  2. wicked

Pernicious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing or capable of causing harm

    "the pernicious effects of illegal narcotics on society"

    similar: adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, prejudicial, wicked
    related: hostile, inimical, unfriendly, contagious, deadly, infectious, infective, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, poisonous, venomous, insidious, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, destructive, fatal, killer, lethal, malignant, ruinous
    opposite: anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe
    near: advantageous, beneficial, useful, favorable, good, propitious, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome, secure, sound, benignant, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pernicious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pernicious:

adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, prejudicial, wicked

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pernicious

Words with the opposite meaning of Pernicious:

anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe

Related Words for Pernicious

hostile, inimical, unfriendly, contagious, deadly, infectious, infective, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, poisonous, venomous, insidious, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome

Near Antonyms of Pernicious

advantageous, beneficial, useful, favorable, good, propitious, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome, secure, sound, benignant, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Word Forms of Pernicious

Derived words: perniciously (adverb), perniciousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Pernicious

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin perniciosus, from pernicies destruction, from per- + nec-, nex violent death noxious

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Pernicious

pernicious anemia

Frequently Asked Questions about Pernicious

What does "Pernicious" mean?

"Pernicious" means highly damaging or destructive often in a way that is not easily seen or noticed. As an adjective, it is defined as: highly damaging or destructive often in a way that is not easily seen or noticed.

What is another word for "Pernicious"?

Other words for "Pernicious" include adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious and detrimental. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pernicious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pernicious"?

There are 54 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pernicious". Common alternatives include adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil and harmful.

What is the opposite of "Pernicious"?

Antonyms of "Pernicious" include anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive and safe. Near antonyms include advantageous, beneficial, useful and favorable.

How do you use "Pernicious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pernicious" in a sentence: "the pernicious effects of illegal narcotics on society".

Is "Pernicious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pernicious" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Pernicious"?

"Pernicious" is pronounced /pər-ˈni-shəs/ and divided into syllables as per·ni·cious.

What is the origin of the word "Pernicious"?

"Pernicious" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin perniciosus, from pernicies destruction, from per- + nec-, nex violent death noxious. First known use: 15th century.