pernicious

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective exceedingly harmful
  2. adjective working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French pernicios, from Latin perniciōsus (“destructive”), from perniciēs (“destruction”), from per (“through”) + nex (“slaughter, death”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

baneful, deadly, pestilent

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