pernicious
Quietly causing ruin
Pernicious describes something that causes harm in a gradual, subtle, or insidious way.
A pernicious influence corrupts over time; a pernicious rumor spreads quietly and damages reputations.
The word implies harm that's not immediately obvious but deeply destructive: the pernicious effects of long-term stress.
In medicine, pernicious anemia is a specific blood disorder.
Causing loss or injury
- injuriousCausing physical harm
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
- deleteriousCausing harm or damage
- banefulCausing serious harm
ruinous · destructive · corrosive · debilitating · adverse · noxious · baleful · prejudicial
Meaning to do harm
- evilProfound moral wickedness
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- malignantHarmfully invasive, often fatal
nefarious · vile · villainous · diabolical · maleficent · spiteful · vindictive · hostile
Not immediately obvious
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- imperceptibleCannot be sensed
unnoticed · hidden · covert · lurking · slow-acting · underlying · undetected · veiled
Causing death or ruin
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- mortalSubject to death
- killingCausing death deliberately
- deathlyResembling the grave
terminal · life-threatening · death-dealing · murderous · pestilent · virulent · necrotic · destructive
damaging
Causing loss or injury
- injuriousCausing physical harm
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
- deleteriousCausing harm or damage
baneful · ruinous · destructive · corrosive · debilitating · adverse · noxious · baleful · prejudicial · impairing
malicious
Meaning to do harm
malignant · nefarious · vile · villainous · diabolical · maleficent · spiteful · vindictive · hostile · vicious
subtle
Not immediately obvious
- gradualDeveloping slowly over time
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
imperceptible · unnoticed · hidden · covert · lurking · slow-acting · underlying · undetected · veiled · disguised
fatal
Causing death or ruin
deathly · terminal · life-threatening · death-dealing · murderous · pestilent · virulent · necrotic · destructive · annihilating
- wickedevil, wicked, villainous, malicious, sinister
perniciousharmless
Causing no injury
innocuous · benign · beneficial · helpful · inoffensive
- pernicious anemiaIntrinsic factor deficiency disease