insidious
Use Insidious in a sentence
i adjective
1.
intended to entrap or beguile: an insidious plan.
2.
stealthily treacherous or deceitful: an insidious enemy.
3.
operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect: an insidious disease.
Origin:
1535–45; < Latin insidiōsus deceitful, equivalent to insidi(ae) (plural) an ambush (derivative of insidēre to sit in or on) + -ōsus -ous
1535–45; < Latin insidiōsus deceitful, equivalent to insidi(ae) (plural) an ambush (derivative of insidēre to sit in or on) + -ōsus -ous
Related forms
in·sid·i·ous·ly, adverb
in·sid·i·ous·ness, noun
un·in·sid·i·ous, adjective
un·in·sid·i·ous·ly, adverb
un·in·sid·i·ous·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. corrupting. 2. artful, cunning, wily, subtle, crafty.
1. corrupting. 2. artful, cunning, wily, subtle, crafty.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To insidious
00:10
Insidious
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
insidious (ɪnˈsɪdɪəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | stealthy, subtle, cunning, or treacherous |
| 2. | working in a subtle or apparently innocuous way, but nevertheless deadly: an insidious illness |
| [C16: from Latin insidiōsus cunning, from insidiae an ambush, from insidēre to sit in; see | |
| in'sidiously | |
| —adv | |
| in'sidiousness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
insidious
1545, from L. insidiosus "deceitful," from insidiæ (pl.) "plot, snare, ambush," from insidere "sit on, occupy," from in- "in" + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
insidious in·sid·i·ous (ĭn-sĭd'ē-əs)
adj.
Being a disease that progresses with few or no symptoms to indicate its gravity.
in·sid'i·ous·ly adv.
in·sid'i·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The culprit, some say, may be more insidious-and harder to pin down.
New research indicates that the chemical could have a more insidious side, however.
It has also had an insidious effect within the country.
If they multiply at the same rate as opinions, the process can be insidious, even destructive.
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