as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the pernicious effects of illegal narcotics on society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pernicious
Ukraine is fighting against a Russia that has been a pernicious, destabilizing force on the global stage.
—
Frida Ghitis, CNN, 22 Jan. 2023
And yet, three full years into the pandemic, scientists are still trying to understand what exactly makes SARS-CoV-2 so pernicious.
—Joel Achenbach, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023
But while the American public seems well aware of social media’s pernicious effects on political discourse, don’t expect things to change anytime soon.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2022
Does this persistent and pernicious misapprehension of the importance of fish in the Mediterranean’s past have ramifications for the modern inheritors of the Mediterranean Sea thousands of years later?
—Paul Greenberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Frida Ghitis, CNN, 22 Jan. 2023
And yet, three full years into the pandemic, scientists are still trying to understand what exactly makes SARS-CoV-2 so pernicious.
—Joel Achenbach, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023
But while the American public seems well aware of social media’s pernicious effects on political discourse, don’t expect things to change anytime soon.
—Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2022
Does this persistent and pernicious misapprehension of the importance of fish in the Mediterranean’s past have ramifications for the modern inheritors of the Mediterranean Sea thousands of years later?
—Paul Greenberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernicious
Adjective
-
This can be extremely harmful to the lungs of at-risk people, including children whose lungs are still developing, pregnant women, older adults and those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or diabetes, according to the American Lung Assn.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Test results from Consumer Reports found potentially harmful chemicals in roughly half of the formula products.—
Geoff Harris,
Baltimore Sun,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Africa, where the World Health Organization has deemed skin bleaching a dangerous and common phenomenon, is no exception.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Crowds are more dangerous when the stakes are superficial, for instance, rushing into a Best Buy on Black Friday.—
Rascal Kemble-Curry,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But even with the buffer, extended time with a 200 percent wine tariff would be detrimental to Sinzer’s businesses and restaurants across America.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Those two-putts down the stretch were not detrimental, but did allow Spaun to stay in the tournament.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Now, research has confirmed just how damaging that habit can be.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Professionals, for the most part, consider these to be inefficient or damaging to knives.—
Ahmed Ali Akbar,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The takeover offer will be subject to customary closing conditions including market and business-related material, adverse change clauses and regulatory approval.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
-
No adverse events were reported after six weeks of treatment.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pernicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernicious. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share