pernicious

Definitions

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

Highly destructive, injurious, or deadly.

Examples

The pernicious influence of social media can often distort a teenager's perception of reality.

He argued that the pernicious cycle of poverty is difficult to break without systemic reform.

The company's decision to ignore safety regulations had a pernicious effect on the health of its employees.

Synonyms

harmful damaging destructive detrimental injurious malicious noxious

Antonyms

beneficial harmless salutary wholesome helpful innocuous advantageous