Meaning of Pernicious Explained | Generated by AI
Question: What does “pernicious” mean?
Answer:
Pernicious (adjective) means:
- Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
- Extremely damaging, destructive, or deadly over time
- Highly injurious or destructive to something (often used for ideas, influences, conditions, or habits)
It usually describes something wickedly harmful that causes serious damage slowly or in ways that are not immediately obvious.
Common patterns and examples
- pernicious influence / effect / impact
- pernicious habit / practice / doctrine / ideology
- pernicious anemia (a specific medical condition — vitamin B₁₂ deficiency anemia)
Typical sentences:
- The pernicious effects of long-term social media comparison on mental health are becoming increasingly clear.
- Corruption has a pernicious influence on developing economies.
- He escaped a pernicious cult that had controlled his life for over a decade.
- Second-hand smoke has pernicious consequences for children and non-smokers.
- The pernicious rumor slowly destroyed her reputation.
Synonyms (depending on context):
harmful · damaging · destructive · injurious · deleterious · toxic · poisonous · malign · malevolent · baleful · noxious · deadly · ruinous · insidious
Antonyms:
beneficial · harmless · benign · helpful · wholesome
The word often carries a slightly stronger moral or intellectual disapproval compared to just “harmful” — it suggests something evil in its effects or particularly insidious.
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