1
as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
received an inimical response rather than the anticipated support
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adverse
opposed to one's interests
laws designed to enhance national security that some regard as inimical to cherished freedoms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inimical
For one, the United States would be in a stronger position to prevent Israel from annexing the West Bank, a move that is inimical to U.S. interests and Palestinian rights.
—
Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2025
Or reform of a tax system that is complex, regressive, and inimical to growth.
—Anand Menon, Time, 18 Oct. 2025
The spiral of silence therefore becomes inimical to pluralistic debate, discussion and, ultimately, to democracy itself.
—James L. Gibson, The Conversation, 26 June 2025
The partnership model’s annual distribution of funds is inimical to long-term investment.
—Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inimical
Andrew P. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2025
Or reform of a tax system that is complex, regressive, and inimical to growth.
—Anand Menon, Time, 18 Oct. 2025
The spiral of silence therefore becomes inimical to pluralistic debate, discussion and, ultimately, to democracy itself.
—James L. Gibson, The Conversation, 26 June 2025
The partnership model’s annual distribution of funds is inimical to long-term investment.
—Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inimical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inimical
Adjective
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That means unlocking our vast energy resources, expanding production, building pipelines, approving infrastructure and increasing exports to allies who need reliable alternatives to hostile regimes.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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The one major exception is agriculture — and that policy has historical roots dating back to World War II, when the Swiss learned the hard way that food security matters for small countries surrounded by hostile powers.—
Richard W. Rahn,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Vaccines can and have caused serious adverse effects (but not autism) in specific populations.—
Diana Gitig,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2026
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For example, in a March 5 warning letter, the FDA accused drugmaker Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, of failing to report some adverse events to the federal government, including suicidal ideation and death.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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In a striking shift, White voters without college degrees that voted to reelect Trump by a huge margin are now net-negative on his job approval.—
Hannah Knowles,
Washington Post,
28 May 2026
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From Xi Jinping’s quest to regain China’s glory, to Vladimir Putin’s attempts at a new Russian empire, to the rise of populist anti-foreign attitudes in the United States, Britain, Germany, and France, negative views of others underpin many of the conflicts in today’s world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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The agreement was immediately challenged in Kenya’s High Court, with opponents criticizing it for unfavorable terms.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Wasserman Schultz’s overall rating among Democratic voters in the district, with 80% favorable and 13% unfavorable, is a net positive of 67 percentage points.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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However, be careful when choosing which plants to prune, as getting the timing wrong can be detrimental.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
1 June 2026
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In this instance, using the AI advice could be detrimental to their livelihood.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Platforms will be required to introduce safety-by-design features, including protections against manipulative design that encourages compulsive use, and take action against underage accounts and harmful content.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
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In addition to being harmful to humans, certain types of mushrooms can be poisonous to pets if consumed.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inimical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inimical. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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