as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the pernicious effects of illegal narcotics on society
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Recent Examples of pernicious
One of the most pernicious forms of homegrown mass violence is school shootings.
—
Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2025
The groper was a lowlife—a deranged doctor, bent on harvesting astronaut semen for pernicious procreative ends.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
On the surface, dietary advice to eat more vegetables hardly seems pernicious.
—Rachel Hope Cleves / Made By History, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
Eggs have become vivid symbols of Americans’ frustration over the pernicious inflation of recent years.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2025
The groper was a lowlife—a deranged doctor, bent on harvesting astronaut semen for pernicious procreative ends.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025
On the surface, dietary advice to eat more vegetables hardly seems pernicious.
—Rachel Hope Cleves / Made By History, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
Eggs have become vivid symbols of Americans’ frustration over the pernicious inflation of recent years.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernicious
Adjective
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According to a five-pillar plan shared with CNBC, Cruz also aims to create federal standards for AI, prevent AI from being used in harmful ways such as scams, allow free speech and address ethical concerns.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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Nonfiction narratives that students both read and produce serve as counter-narratives to the oppressive and harmful tropes in media more generally about Black girls and girlhood.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Whatever happens in their final qualifier, against Argentina on Tuesday, La Tri will travel to the World Cup next summer as one of South America’s most dangerous teams.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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To dissidents, she has been seen as a hero putting her life on the line; to Modi’s supporters, as a dangerous subversive who is anti-national and anti-Hindu.—
Anderson Tepper,
The Atlantic,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, from an AI duality perspective, there is also a solid chance that AI can be detrimental to mental health.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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These die-offs have caused detrimental imbalances within the habitats.—
Lauren Liebhaber
September 5,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Trump is never shy of responding to criticism that is damaging to him from any source.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Historical accounts include stories of big storms and damaging winds and surf, but the modern record begins in 1950.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
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The potential adverse consequences to entrepreneurs when well-being is disregarded are well-documented.—
Samantha Dewalt,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pernicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernicious. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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