Definition of INSIDIOUS

insidious, sinister, or pernicious?

Few would choose to be associated with people or things that are insidious, sinister, or pernicious; all three of these words have decidedly unpleasant meanings, each with its own particular shade of nastiness.

Insidious comes from a Latin word for “ambush” (insidiae), which is fitting, as this word often carries the meanings “deceitful,” “stealthy,” or “harmful in an imperceptible fashion.” The first two meanings may be applied to people or things (“an insidious enemy,” “an insidious plot”), while the last is usually applied to things (“insidious problems,” “insidious sexism”), in particular to the gradual progress of a disease (“an insidious malignancy”).

Sinister comes from a Latin word meaning “on the left side, unlucky, inauspicious.” Although it is commonly used today in the sense “evil” (“a sinister cult leader”; “a sinister plot”), it may also suggest an ominous foreshadowing of some unfavorable turn of events (“a sinister omen”).

Pernicious has largely stayed true to its etymological root, the Latin noun pernicies “ruin, destruction.” Its original meaning in English, “highly injurious or destructive,” usually applies to things (“pernicious apathy,” “pernicious effects”) and medical conditions (“pernicious fever,” pernicious anemia). When applied to people, pernicious means “wicked.”

Examples of insidious in a Sentence

But the litigation is also prompting a subtle and insidious change in the way that medicine is practiced, which affects anyone who consults a health professional, even if they would not dream of setting foot in a lawyer's office. It is known as "defensive medicine." — Geoff Watts, New Scientist, 23–29 Oct. 2004 Spin is sometimes dismissed as a simple euphemism for lying. But it's actually something more insidious: indifference to the truth. — Michael Kinsley, Time, 25 Dec. 2000–1 Jan. 2001 As these boats aged and bedding compounds deteriorated, the water torture began, which led to rot, corrosion, and other insidious problems. — Ralph Naranjo, Cruising World, April 1999 Most people with this insidious disease have no idea that they are infected.

Recent Examples on the Web

Less glam rock and more Agatha Christie, the simple story of one day in the Melrose family's life unfolds in the creaky mansion like a horror film, as insidious threats lurk at every turn. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: In 'Patrick Melrose,' Benedict Cumberbatch is raw, messy and better than ever," 9 May 2018 Season 2 delves into the more insidious parts of racial politics, like alt-right Twitter and the ingrained whiteness of university secret societies. — Rebecca Farley, refinery29.com, "Dear White People Season 2 Binge Club: Episodes 1 - 3 Recaps," 4 May 2018 More insidious than crash injuries, though, were new chronic complaints attributed to cycling. — Aaron Gilbreath, Longreads, "The Wheel, the Woman, and the Human Body," 6 July 2018 Cassius’ thrilling escape from drudgery and poverty reveals itself as simply a more insidious form of entrapment, one that sends poisonous tendrils into every corner of his life. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Review: Boots Riley's 'Sorry to Bother You' is an arrestingly surreal satire on class rage and cultural identity," 5 July 2018 Image Horn argues that a further and more insidious evil was done by crowding these disparate populations together. — Patrick Mcgrath, New York Times, "A Dumping Ground for the Poor, the Criminal and the Mad," 28 June 2018 The radiation released instantaneously by an explosion is only a prelude to a much more insidious and long-lived threat. — Daily Intelligencer, "This Is What a Nuclear Bomb Looks Like," 12 June 2018 On Super Bowl Sunday, without Janet, there’s something more insidious than Justin’s new folksy funky soul sound. — Jeneé Osterheldt, kansascity, "After Super Bowl Nipplegate, Justin Timberlake still a boob | The Kansas City Star," 2 Feb. 2018 If the show is purposefully trying to explore how Ruth keeps falling into gendered traps, there’s value to that story—especially if its gentle rendering indicates how insidious these complexes can be. — Sonia Saraiya, HWD, "Marc Maron Is Great in GLOW, and Maybe That’s a Problem," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insidious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.