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
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
One example was that the law capped the pernicious state and local tax deduction at $10,000.
—The Editors, National Review, 10 Feb. 2025
The pernicious effects of bias also play out in the workplace—with negative consequences for individuals and organizations.
—Iris Bohnet, Big Think, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
One example was that the law capped the pernicious state and local tax deduction at $10,000.
—The Editors, National Review, 10 Feb. 2025
The pernicious effects of bias also play out in the workplace—with negative consequences for individuals and organizations.
—Iris Bohnet, Big Think, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernicious
Adjective
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Research has found that building roads can fragment habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and increase erosion and sediment pollution in drinking water, among other potentially harmful outcomes.—
Hayley Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
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This kind of leadership without empathy is not only unsustainable but actively harmful to morale and performance.—
Jody Michael,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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And here, the country is experiencing a profound—and dangerous—shift.—
ASHLEY J. TELLIS,
Foreign Affairs,
17 June 2025
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This vulnerability becomes even more dangerous in moments of crisis.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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How detrimental and what that means for you is often difficult to know.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
16 June 2025
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Getting rid of those numbers would be detrimental to the Celtics' success.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Adjective
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The primary risks for the Midwest will be damaging winds, hail, flash flooding and the possibility of tornadoes.—
Daniel Manzo,
ABC News,
23 June 2025
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The National Weather Service issued a moderate risk alert for severe thunderstorms across parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, warning that conditions could lead to tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail throughout Friday evening and overnight.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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Risks and precautions Research has shown that NSAIDs have multiple adverse effects and should be used with caution, both doctors pointed out.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
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Hall’s Visual Language Access and Acquisition Lab is a leader in researching those adverse effects and possible solutions.—
Alan Schwarz,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pernicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernicious. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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