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pernicious

2 entries found.



Main Entry:
per·ni·cious Listen to the pronunciation of pernicious
Pronunciation:
\pər-ˈni-shəs\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin perniciosus, from pernicies destruction, from per- + nec-, nex violent death — more at noxious
Date:
15th century
1: highly injurious or destructive : deadly2archaic : wicked
per·ni·cious·ly adverb
per·ni·cious·ness noun
synonyms pernicious, baneful, noxious, deleterious, detrimental mean exceedingly harmful. pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining <the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society>. baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying <the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity>. noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind <noxious chemical fumes>. deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect <a diet found to have deleterious effects>. detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified <the detrimental effects of excessive drinking>.


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