Pernicious
/pərˈnɪʃəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Pernicious describes something that causes great harm or damage, especially in a way that is slow or hidden. It often refers to effects that are bad and get worse without being noticed quickly.
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See It in Action
Causing serious harm or damage in a slow or hidden way
- •Smoking has pernicious effects on health over many years.
- •The pernicious influence of fake news can harm society quietly.
- •Some diseases have pernicious symptoms that are hard to detect early.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'pernicious' like 'bad,' but much stronger and more hidden—like bad that grows quietly and becomes very serious
- ✓Picture a small poison drop in water that slowly spreads and harms fish without them seeing it at first
- ✓It's the feeling when a small problem grows and suddenly causes big trouble, like a secret danger
- ✓Sounds like 'per-NISH-us' → imagine a fish that slowly gets weaker until it 'perishes' (dies) because of hidden harm
- ✓In stories, a pernicious villain works quietly to cause harm without others noticing early
- ✓NOT like 'dangerous' that is clear and obvious; pernicious harm is often hidden or slow
- ✓NOT like 'harm' that can be quick or small; pernicious damage usually grows and becomes very serious over time
- ✓NOT like 'poison' that is direct and fast; pernicious effects can be indirect and take time to show
Try Other Words
- •Damaging: causing harm or injury (Use when harm is clear and direct)
- •Dangerous: likely to cause harm or injury (Use when risk is obvious and immediate)
- •Destructive: causing a lot of damage or destruction (Use when harm is strong and visible)
- •Injurious: causing injury or harm (Use in formal or medical contexts)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: 'per-' meaning 'through' or 'thoroughly'
- •Root: 'nic' from Latin 'noxius,' meaning harmful or hurtful
- •Suffix: '-ious' forming an adjective meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of'
- •Origin: From Latin 'perniciosus,' meaning destructive or ruinous
- •Historical use: First used in English in the late 1500s to describe things causing ruin or death
- •Modern use: Used to describe serious, often hidden harm in health, society, or behavior
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be harmful without being pernicious? How do you tell the difference?
•How might understanding the word 'pernicious' help you recognize hidden dangers in daily life?
Fill in the blanks
1.Smoking is considered pernicious because it ___ health slowly over time without immediate signs.
2.The pernicious effects of bad habits often become clear only after they have ___.
3.Unlike obvious dangers, pernicious problems are ___ and hard to notice at first.
4.People sometimes ignore pernicious influences because they ___ serious harm quickly.
5.The phrase 'pernicious weed' refers to plants that ___ native plants quietly but strongly.
6.Pernicious behavior can ___ relationships if not stopped early.
7.Public health campaigns warn about pernicious substances that ___ long-term damage.