adjective
inimical
ih-NIM-ih-kuhl
Inimical (adjective) means tending to harm something or make it impossible; working against it. Example: “Long hours are inimical to good judgement.”
adjective
1
Tending to harm something or make it impossible; working against it.
"Long hours are inimical to good judgement."
"Such secrecy is inimical to public trust."
2
Unfriendly or hostile in attitude.
"He faced an inimical crowd from the first minute."
"Relations between the two ministries were openly inimical."
How to use inimical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWorking against something, or plainly unfriendly.
When to use it
Formal and rather bookish; common in legal, political and academic prose.
Memory tip
Note the shared root with amicable: in- plus friend gives you not-friendly.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
inimical to democracy
inimical to growth
inimical forces
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Etymology
From Late Latin inimicalis, from Latin inimicus 'enemy', formed from in- 'not' and amicus 'friend'.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for inimical
See all rhymes for inimical →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between inimical and inimitable?
They are unrelated despite looking alike. Inimical means harmful or hostile; inimitable means so good or distinctive that nobody can copy it. Inimitable is a compliment, inimical never is.
How do you use inimical in a sentence?
The harm sense almost always takes 'to': something is inimical to something else. The hostility sense can stand alone before a noun, as in 'an inimical stare'.
What is the meaning of inimical?
"inimical" (adjective) means tending to harm something or make it impossible; working against it.
What is another word for inimical?
Other words for "inimical" include harmful, damaging, detrimental, injurious, opposed, unfriendly.
