as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the pernicious effects of illegal narcotics on society
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Recent Examples of pernicious
Tariffs are particularly pernicious tax hikes and are now the cornerstone of Republican economic policy.
—
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Punishing Kelly is extremely pernicious political retaliation.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Not only does the extant relationship between art and commerce imply no causal relationship between commercial performance and literary quality, but this false implication is itself a pernicious impediment to both the creation and profitable production of great art.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Some of these efforts spawned even more pernicious phenomena.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Punishing Kelly is extremely pernicious political retaliation.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Not only does the extant relationship between art and commerce imply no causal relationship between commercial performance and literary quality, but this false implication is itself a pernicious impediment to both the creation and profitable production of great art.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
Some of these efforts spawned even more pernicious phenomena.
—Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pernicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pernicious
Adjective
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In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Many of these jars contain unknown or poorly documented chemical mixtures that could be toxic to humans or harmful to the specimens themselves if disturbed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Without reliably cold temperatures, snow is wetter and thinner, conditions are rainier — and for athletes that can be dangerous.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Luge is the most dangerous of the three sliding sports (bobsled and skeleton are the others) — ironic because athletes in that event actually have the most control.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Without a doubt, the MAGA approach to immigration has resulted in detrimental effects to how the Constitution works in our system of justice.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
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The opposite, overwatering, is also detrimental because the seeds may rot.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Large hail up to quarter size and damaging winds of up to 60 mph are possible both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evenings.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
12 Feb. 2026
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But growth stalled, due both to the pandemic and damaging revelations about Glossier’s corporate culture during the racial justice movement following the murder of George Floyd.—
Jenny B. Fine,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Kiosks should be designed to detect drug combinations or conditions with higher risks for adverse events and these high-risk scenarios should be automatically flagged for real-time clinician review or to be reviewed within 24 hours of dispensing.—
Mark A. Munger,
STAT,
13 Feb. 2026
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The sharp rise in chocolate prices owes to a cocoa shortage caused primarily by adverse weather and crop disease in West Africa, which accounts for about 70% of the world’s cocoa, some analysts told ABC News.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pernicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pernicious. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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