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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One of the most common and harmful examples is the Social Security Administration phishing scam, which targets unsuspecting individuals with alarming and deceptive messages.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 July 2025
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Avoid charring or cooking over high flames, which can create harmful compounds (like HCAs and PAHs).—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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Other symptoms can include itching, swelling, and a throbbing pain that radiates up the affected limb, according to Cleveland Clinic. Types Of Jellyfish To Look Out For According to Coffey, the U.S. is home to more than 9,000 species of jellyfish, and only about 100 are considered dangerous.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
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Making Their Lives Too Easy Wealth without work creates a dangerous illusion.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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These dams have detrimental ecological impacts in an area that is already experiencing a high amount of litter.—
Ruby Grisin,
The Courier-Journal,
11 July 2025
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In addition to the risks of dehydration and heat illness, exposure to the sun is detrimental to your skin.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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The Baltimore area is under a flood watch, as thunderstorms and damaging winds are possible Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
14 July 2025
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Stay away from windows as flying debris generated by damaging winds can be deadly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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Possible issues associated with consuming too much of the spice include allergic reactions (that can range from mild irritation to serious symptoms), stomach pain and potential adverse interactions with medications such as blood thinners.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
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Earth’s magnetic field naturally protects living things and Earth-orbiting satellites from most adverse effects of space weather.—
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti,
The Conversation,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pernicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernicious. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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