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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

Pernicious

Adjective

IPA /pəˈnɪʃəs/

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Meaning in plain English

Highly harmful or destructive, often in a gradual or subtle way.

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Pronunciation

Pernicious/pəˈnɪʃəs/

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  1. A harmful influence begins quietly

  2. Its damage grows over time

Something pernicious can cause serious harm gradually or subtly.

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  1. The pernicious effects of misinformation spread quickly across social media.
  2. Pernicious rumours undermined trust among the members of the group.

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The ________ effects of misinformation spread quickly across social media.
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Pernicious — Highly harmful or destructive, often in a gradual or subtle way.

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Highly harmful or destructive, often in a gradual or subtle way.

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Word origin

From Latin perniciosus, meaning "destructive," from pernicies (ruin, destruction)

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Pernicious describes a seriously harmful influence or effect. The harm may develop gradually or be difficult to notice, but it need not be hidden or fatal.

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Pernicious

/pəˈnɪʃəs/ (Adjective)

“Use pernicious for a seriously harmful influence, practice or idea, often one whose effects build over time.”

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