Word a Day
pernicious
What does pernicious mean?
pernicious (adjective): causing much harm in a subtle way.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you use pernicious in a sentence?
- They warned of the pernicious effects of misinformation. (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- The weed has a pernicious influence on local crops. (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0)
How do you pronounce pernicious?
/pɚˈnɪʃəs/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does pernicious come from?
From Middle English, from Old French pernicios, from Latin perniciōsus (“destructive”), from perniciēs (“destruction”), from per (“through”) + nex (“slaughter, death”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “pernicious”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “pernicious” mean?
honest, frank and straightforward
Not quite: that's what upfront means.
causing much harm in a subtle way
Right! That's what “pernicious” means.
country-styled or pastoral; rural
Not quite: that's what rustic means.
passing or disappearing with time
Not quite: that's what transient means.
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