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Perniciously: meaning, definitions and examples

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perniciously

 

[ pərˈnɪʃəsli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

harmful manner

Perniciously describes an action that is destructive, causing significant harm or damage, often in a way that is not immediately obvious. It is associated with actions or influences that may seem benign or harmless at first but ultimately lead to detrimental effects. The term is often used in contexts where the consequences are insidious and damaging over time. Due to its negative connotation, perniciously implies a level of deceit or stealth in the harmful impact.

Synonyms

deceitfully, destructively, harmfully, insidiously.

Examples of usage

  • The disease spread perniciously through the population.
  • He spoke perniciously, undermining trust among the team.
  • The propaganda was disseminated perniciously, leading to widespread misinformation.

Translations

Translations of the word "perniciously" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perniciosamente

🇮🇳 विनाशकारी तरीके से

🇩🇪 schädlich

🇮🇩 secara merugikan

🇺🇦 пагубно

🇵🇱 szkodliwie

🇯🇵 有害に

🇫🇷 pernicieusement

🇪🇸 perniciosamente

🇹🇷 zararlı bir şekilde

🇰🇷 해로운 방식으로

🇸🇦 بشكل ضار

🇨🇿 škodlivě

🇸🇰 škodlivo

🇨🇳 有害地

🇸🇮 škodljivo

🇮🇸 skaðlega

🇰🇿 зиянды түрде

🇬🇪 საზიანოდ

🇦🇿 zərərli şəkildə

🇲🇽 perniciosamente

Etymology

The word 'pernicious' originates from the Latin term 'perniciosus', meaning 'destructive' or 'ruinous'. This Latin word is derived from 'pernicies', which means 'destruction' or 'ruin'. The term was adopted into Middle English in the late 14th century, initially maintaining its meaning related to harm and destruction. Over time, 'pernicious' evolved into its adverbial form, 'perniciously', to describe actions done in a harmful or insidious manner. The connotations of the word have remained negative, emphasizing the stealthy and often subtle nature of the harm being done, particularly in social, political, and health contexts. Today, 'perniciously' is frequently used to describe the effects of harmful behaviors, ideologies, or substances that infiltrate and corrupt without immediate recognition.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,379, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.