adj
pernicious
puh-NIH-shuhs
adj
1
Causing harm gradually or in a way that is not immediately obvious.
"Low-level corruption can have a pernicious effect on public trust."
"The rumor had a pernicious influence on her reputation."
How to Use Pernicious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHarmful in a slow, sneaky way that isn't obvious at first.
Common mistake
Pernicious anemia is a fixed medical term (a vitamin B12 deficiency disease) — it doesn't mean the anemia is "sneaky," just that the name is historic.
Common pairings
pernicious effect
pernicious influence
pernicious anemia
Word Forms
more pernicious comparative, more pernicious comparative, most pernicious superlative, most pernicious superlative
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Low-level corruption can have a _____ effect on public trust.
Etymology
From Latin perniciosus ("destructive"), from pernicies ("ruin, death").