Insidious
adjective
Something or someone that slowly and secretly causes harm.
He had a heart condition that was insidious because its damage was silent and not immediate.
Often appears as...
- insidious disease
- insidious problem
adjective
Spreading in a hidden and usually harmful way.
The insidious influence of drugs can slowly destroy a person's life.
Often appears as...
- insidious underminer
- insidious intent
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Something or someone that slowly and secretly causes harm.
He had a heart condition that was insidious because its damage was silent and not immediate.
Often appears as...
- insidious disease
- insidious problem
adjective
Spreading in a hidden and usually harmful way.
The insidious influence of drugs can slowly destroy a person's life.
Often appears as...
- insidious underminer
- insidious intent
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Harm
Use 'insidious' for problems that worsen without obvious symptoms.
The spy's insidious sabotage went unnoticed until it was too late.
Pro Tip 2/3Slow Progression
Describes something harmful developing gradually, which may be difficult to detect initially.
Climate change is an insidious threat that evolves over decades.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
'Insidious' is often used to describe sly tactics or conspiracies in movies and literature.
The insidious plot of the villain in the novel kept readers on edge.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Harm
Use 'insidious' for problems that worsen without obvious symptoms.
The spy's insidious sabotage went unnoticed until it was too late.
Pro Tip 2/3Slow Progression
Describes something harmful developing gradually, which may be difficult to detect initially.
Climate change is an insidious threat that evolves over decades.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
'Insidious' is often used to describe sly tactics or conspiracies in movies and literature.
The insidious plot of the villain in the novel kept readers on edge.
Pro Tip 1/3Hidden Harm
Use 'insidious' for problems that worsen without obvious symptoms.
The spy's insidious sabotage went unnoticed until it was too late.
Pro Tip 2/3Slow Progression
Describes something harmful developing gradually, which may be difficult to detect initially.
Climate change is an insidious threat that evolves over decades.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
'Insidious' is often used to describe sly tactics or conspiracies in movies and literature.
The insidious plot of the villain in the novel kept readers on edge.
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Video examples
The loathsome, lethal...
and over that time have coevolved with all sorts of species, including our own. There are actually thousands of species of mosquitos in the world, but they all share one insidious they suck blood, and they're really, really good at sucking blood. Here's how they do it. After landing, a mosquito will slather
Video examples
Surveillance on and off...
the NSA's prism program what we don't think about are these sort of more subtle insidious technologies that infiltrate all different aspects of our daily lives how we live work and relate to one another and I think the trucker's scenario is really instructive in helping us to think through how those
Video examples
The Battle for the Soul...
to reflect the qualities of the people who build them both the good and the bad i think it's really important to understand that ai learns from us it learns from our behaviors i always you know like to say that there are no engineers in the background that are very insidious and want to make things
Video examples
4 signs of emotional...
It’s especially insidious because it often makes people doubt their perceptions of their own mistreatment. So let’s walk through some of the most common signs of emotional abuse, to make these behaviors and patterns easier to spot in real life.
Video examples
Richard Thompson Ford: A...
One commentator said she looks like she's relaxing and on vacation while everyone else is doing work. So pretending you don't care about what people wear can turn into just a more subtle and insidious form of dress code.
Video examples
Doomsday Vault PIPE...
an influence on that particular sector of the economy which then has a ripple effect on other parts of the agricultural economy as well and an insidious new threat to the world's food supply is on the rise a potentially
Video examples
Bag the Bag PIPE National...
question paper or plastic about neither they've become insidious global tumbleweeds wreaking havoc on the environment each year more than 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide
Video examples
Kathryn Schulz: Don't...
So for instance, here's one of my favorite automatic generators of regret in modern life. Relpy to all. And the amazing thing about this really insidious technological innovation
Video examples
How racism makes us sick...
and it occurs even among the most well-intentioned individuals. But the deeper that I delved into the health impact of racism, the more insidious the effects became.
Video examples
3 ways to plan for the...
And here's the insidious thing. A sandbag strategy can get you reelected. A sandbag strategy can help you make your quarterly numbers.
Video examples
The loathsome, lethal...
and over that time have coevolved with all sorts of species, including our own. There are actually thousands of species of mosquitos in the world, but they all share one insidious they suck blood, and they're really, really good at sucking blood. Here's how they do it. After landing, a mosquito will slather
Video examples
Surveillance on and off...
the NSA's prism program what we don't think about are these sort of more subtle insidious technologies that infiltrate all different aspects of our daily lives how we live work and relate to one another and I think the trucker's scenario is really instructive in helping us to think through how those
Video examples
The Battle for the Soul...
to reflect the qualities of the people who build them both the good and the bad i think it's really important to understand that ai learns from us it learns from our behaviors i always you know like to say that there are no engineers in the background that are very insidious and want to make things
Video examples
4 signs of emotional...
It’s especially insidious because it often makes people doubt their perceptions of their own mistreatment. So let’s walk through some of the most common signs of emotional abuse, to make these behaviors and patterns easier to spot in real life.
Video examples
Richard Thompson Ford: A...
One commentator said she looks like she's relaxing and on vacation while everyone else is doing work. So pretending you don't care about what people wear can turn into just a more subtle and insidious form of dress code.
Video examples
Doomsday Vault PIPE...
an influence on that particular sector of the economy which then has a ripple effect on other parts of the agricultural economy as well and an insidious new threat to the world's food supply is on the rise a potentially
Video examples
Bag the Bag PIPE National...
question paper or plastic about neither they've become insidious global tumbleweeds wreaking havoc on the environment each year more than 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide
Video examples
Kathryn Schulz: Don't...
So for instance, here's one of my favorite automatic generators of regret in modern life. Relpy to all. And the amazing thing about this really insidious technological innovation
Video examples
How racism makes us sick...
and it occurs even among the most well-intentioned individuals. But the deeper that I delved into the health impact of racism, the more insidious the effects became.
Video examples
3 ways to plan for the...
And here's the insidious thing. A sandbag strategy can get you reelected. A sandbag strategy can help you make your quarterly numbers.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jean Nidetch
American Businesswoman
When you're trying to lose weight, one of the most important things you can do is eat three decent meals a day so that you're not so hungry that you can't get food off your mind. Habit and hunger have long been the basic, insidious enemies of the overweight. We can't fight hunger, but we can fight habit.
Quote examples
Jimmy Reid
Scottish Activist
A rat race is for rats. We're not rats. We're human beings. Reject the insidious pressures in society that would blunt your critical faculties to all that is happening around you, that would caution silence in the face of injustice lest you jeopardise your chances of promotion and self-advancement.
Quote examples
Rebecca MacKinnon
American Journalist
Digital power is every bit as likely to be abused as physical power, but is often more insidious because it is often wielded in the background until its results manifest themselves in the offline world.
Quote examples
Loretta Lynch
American Public Servant
The 'Ndrangheta is an exceptionally dangerous, sophisticated and insidious criminal organization, with tentacles stretching from Italy to countries around the world.
Quote examples
Douglas MacArthur
American General
I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.
Quote examples
John Ratzenberger
American Actor
I'm concerned about the insidious influence of the media's bad messages that undermine the lessons parents try to instill in their sons and daughters.
Quote examples
Hill Harper
American Actor
On the male side of my family, cancer has been very insidious, and so I'm just attempting to live a lifestyle that doesn't follow in their footsteps.
Quote examples
Miroslav Volf
Croatian Theologian
Prejudice is a form of untruthfulness, and untruthfulness is an insidious form of injustice.
Quote examples
Samuel P. Huntington
American Sociologist
Partial truths or half-truths are often more insidious than total falsehoods.
Quote examples
Jim Nantz
American Entertainer
Alzheimer's is such an insidious disease.
Quote examples
Jean Nidetch
American Businesswoman
When you're trying to lose weight, one of the most important things you can do is eat three decent meals a day so that you're not so hungry that you can't get food off your mind. Habit and hunger have long been the basic, insidious enemies of the overweight. We can't fight hunger, but we can fight habit.
Quote examples
Jimmy Reid
Scottish Activist
A rat race is for rats. We're not rats. We're human beings. Reject the insidious pressures in society that would blunt your critical faculties to all that is happening around you, that would caution silence in the face of injustice lest you jeopardise your chances of promotion and self-advancement.
Quote examples
Rebecca MacKinnon
American Journalist
Digital power is every bit as likely to be abused as physical power, but is often more insidious because it is often wielded in the background until its results manifest themselves in the offline world.
Quote examples
Loretta Lynch
American Public Servant
The 'Ndrangheta is an exceptionally dangerous, sophisticated and insidious criminal organization, with tentacles stretching from Italy to countries around the world.
Quote examples
Douglas MacArthur
American General
I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within.
Quote examples
John Ratzenberger
American Actor
I'm concerned about the insidious influence of the media's bad messages that undermine the lessons parents try to instill in their sons and daughters.
Quote examples
Hill Harper
American Actor
On the male side of my family, cancer has been very insidious, and so I'm just attempting to live a lifestyle that doesn't follow in their footsteps.
Quote examples
Miroslav Volf
Croatian Theologian
Prejudice is a form of untruthfulness, and untruthfulness is an insidious form of injustice.
Quote examples
Samuel P. Huntington
American Sociologist
Partial truths or half-truths are often more insidious than total falsehoods.
Quote examples
Jim Nantz
American Entertainer
Alzheimer's is such an insidious disease.
Example 1 of 10
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