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View synonyms for inimical

inimical

[ ih-nim-i-kuhl ]

adjective

  1. adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful:

    a climate inimical to health.

    Synonyms: noxious

  2. a cold, inimical gaze.

    Synonyms: antagonistic

    Antonyms: friendly



inimical

/ ɪˈnɪmɪkəl /

adjective

  1. adverse or unfavourable
  2. not friendly; hostile


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Derived Forms

  • inˈimicalness, noun
  • inˈimically, adverb

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Other Words From

  • in·im·i·cal·ly adverb
  • in·im·i·cal·ness noun
  • in·im·i·cal·i·ty [ih-nim-i-, kal, -i-tee] noun
  • un·in·im·i·cal adjective
  • un·in·im·i·cal·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of inimical1

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin inimīc(us) “unfriendly, hostile” ( enemy ) + -al 1

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Word History and Origins

Origin of inimical1

C17: from Late Latin inimīcālis, from inimīcus, from in- 1+ amīcus friendly; see enemy

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Synonym Study

See hostile.

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Example Sentences

The education provided by the schools at issue here is inimical to a public education.

From TIme

Loujain al-Hathloul, the activist who fought for years to get women the right to drive — granted in 2019 — was sentenced to a five-year prison term in 2020, ostensibly for relations with foreign organizations inimical to Riyadh.

From Ozy

In societies where dominant cultural mores remain inimical to progressive ideals, advocates must seize upon the opportunity to make themselves understood and welcome in mainstream discourse.

From Time

What Trumpism is is a statist, authoritarian ideology that’s inimical to the American precepts of democracy.

He felt as though there were dark, sinister forces around him—forces which were inimical to what he conceived to be best in him.

The word inimical implies un-amicable, or unfriendly, whence Michael was seemingly the Friend of Man.

The sun should reach them only through the vapours of other life than theirs, inimical to them because of their selfishness.

Lopez, seeing it in the same light, at last agreed that the story should be told in a manner not inimical to himself.

The residents here are Americans by connection and by interest, and are inimical to Great Britain.

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