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
What is more pernicious than the denial is the tacit acceptance of his behavior in the community, as the community was the lifeblood of his art.
—
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
And that’s not all — Yeon’s new film about the pernicious undead has set its North American theatrical release date.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That may sound like a smart countermeasure to a pernicious tech shortcut.
—Nathan Agranovsky, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
During one rant against cancel culture and its pernicious tendency to smear the innocent, Tillman brings up Joseph McCarthy as a prime example of a person whose reputation was unfairly destroyed.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
And that’s not all — Yeon’s new film about the pernicious undead has set its North American theatrical release date.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That may sound like a smart countermeasure to a pernicious tech shortcut.
—Nathan Agranovsky, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2026
During one rant against cancel culture and its pernicious tendency to smear the innocent, Tillman brings up Joseph McCarthy as a prime example of a person whose reputation was unfairly destroyed.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernicious
Adjective
-
But others say research in Australia has shown that age verification is difficult to enforce, and that a blanket ban seemed to be a snap decision that does not address a deeper problem — the way social media algorithms push harmful content to young people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
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There were also die-offs of seals, sea lions and marine birds, Leising said, probably from a combination of a lack of food and harmful algal blooms, and less food out there for baleen whales.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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That is exactly why these fake job offers are so dangerous.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
Over the last week, the greatest threat of dangerous rip currents and sneaker waves has been on the beaches facing south or southwest, officials said.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Conferences have membership contracts, revenue leverage, championship access and conduct-detrimental authority.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 June 2026
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The reason is because time confetti can be detrimental to your mental health, physical health, as well as your relationship with your children.—
Parents,
Parents,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Another round of storms will develop near an advancing cold front in the afternoon across northeast Kansas, southern Iowa, and northern Missouri, possibly starting as supercells — large rotating thunderstorms — with very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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These storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and torrential rains.—
Tony Sadiku,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Under its bylaws, the Big 12 can punish a member school for engaging in actions materially adverse to the conference.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 June 2026
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Such insurance contracts are commonplace among teams and players to insure against adverse events, according to Karl Lockhart, a DePaul University law professor specialized in prediction markets.—
Camila Grigera Naon,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pernicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernicious. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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