英语词汇“insidious”的英英意思、用法、释义、翻译、读音、例句、短语、词组-英语词典

adj

If something is slowly and secretly causing harm, it's insidious — like the rumors no one seems to listen to until suddenly someone's reputation is ruined.

Insidious is related to the Latin noun, īnsidiae meaning "ambush" which comes from the Latin verb, īnsidēre "to lie in wait for." This is very fitting as an insidious rumor or problem is one whose negative effect is not realized until the damage is already done. Similarly, an insidious disease develops internally without symptoms, so that you don't realize right away that you are sick.

CHOOSE YOUR WORDS

insidious / invidious

Neither insidious nor invidious are happy words: insidious describes something that lies in wait to get you, and invidious is something offensive or defamatory. Cancer can be insidious, lurking in your body without your knowing it. Invidious doesn't hide; it's hateful right away.

Insidious didn't fall too far from the tree – it comes directly from the Latin word insidiosus meaning "deceitful, cunning, artful," from insidiae "plot, snare, ambush." Something insidious can even be attractive while doing harm, like an insidious plot to befriend your crush's girlfriend, so you can break them up. But often it's not attractive, just sneaky:

Storms like Agnes and Irene are insidious, often striking slowly over time in ways that can be unpredictable and far more damaging than anticipated. (Salon)

An insidious new email virus infiltrated high-profile US companies Thursday. (Toronto Star)

Rather, it is the insidious silence and insensitivity that surrounds so many of the most excruciating diseases of the mind that so often trigger suicide. (CNN)

Invidious comes from the Latin for ill will or envy. Some bouncers probably love the invidious task of not letting good-looking people into their clubs. It's often paired with segregation, but other things can be invidious as well:

Arnold is in an invidious position, and has tried to create a very different type of museum on the proverbial shoestring. (New York Times)

"After an old-fashioned, all-round team performance ... it might seem invidious to single out one player," admits the paper before singling out one player. (Guardian)

The cheap shots against the Democrats and Obama at the beginning were unnecessary and invidious. (Washington Post)

Joining the cheerleading squad so you can poison the football team is insidious. Yelling, "Teams like yours always lose!" at the game is invidious.

WORD FAMILY

insidious: insidiouser, insidiously, insidiousness

USAGE EXAMPLES

Whiteness is default, it’s ubiquitous and it’s insidious.

The Guardian(Jan 01, 2017)

But how about the more insidious institutional prejudice?

Washington Post(Dec 22, 2016)

That’s why attacking the settlements’ legality—as opposed to questioning whether they’re prudent—is so insidious.

Wall Street Journal(Dec 28, 2016)

1adj working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way

glaucoma is an insidious disease

Syn

pernicious, subtle
harmful

causing or capable of causing harm

2adj intended to entrap

Syn

dangerous, unsafe

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

3adj beguiling but harmful

insidious pleasures

Syn

seductive

tending to entice into a desired action or state

单词	insidious
释义	insidious (once / 1884 pages) adj If something is slowly and secretly causing harm, it's insidious — like the rumors no one seems to listen to until suddenly someone's reputation is ruined. Insidious is related to the Latin noun, īnsidiae meaning "ambush" which comes from the Latin verb, īnsidēre "to lie in wait for." This is very fitting as an insidious rumor or problem is one whose negative effect is not realized until the damage is already done. Similarly, an insidious disease develops internally without symptoms, so that you don't realize right away that you are sick. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS insidious / invidious Neither insidious nor invidious are happy words: insidious describes something that lies in wait to get you, and invidious is something offensive or defamatory. Cancer can be insidious, lurking in your body without your knowing it. Invidious doesn't hide; it's hateful right away. Insidious didn't fall too far from the tree – it comes directly from the Latin word insidiosus meaning "deceitful, cunning, artful," from insidiae "plot, snare, ambush." Something insidious can even be attractive while doing harm, like an insidious plot to befriend your crush's girlfriend, so you can break them up. But often it's not attractive, just sneaky: Storms like Agnes and Irene are insidious, often striking slowly over time in ways that can be unpredictable and far more damaging than anticipated. (Salon) An insidious new email virus infiltrated high-profile US companies Thursday. (Toronto Star) Rather, it is the insidious silence and insensitivity that surrounds so many of the most excruciating diseases of the mind that so often trigger suicide. (CNN) Invidious comes from the Latin for ill will or envy. Some bouncers probably love the invidious task of not letting good-looking people into their clubs. It's often paired with segregation, but other things can be invidious as well: Arnold is in an invidious position, and has tried to create a very different type of museum on the proverbial shoestring. (New York Times) "After an old-fashioned, all-round team performance ... it might seem invidious to single out one player," admits the paper before singling out one player. (Guardian) The cheap shots against the Democrats and Obama at the beginning were unnecessary and invidious. (Washington Post) Joining the cheerleading squad so you can poison the football team is insidious. Yelling, "Teams like yours always lose!" at the game is invidious. WORD FAMILY insidious: insidiouser, insidiously, insidiousness USAGE EXAMPLES Whiteness is default, it’s ubiquitous and it’s insidious. The Guardian(Jan 01, 2017) But how about the more insidious institutional prejudice? Washington Post(Dec 22, 2016) That’s why attacking the settlements’ legality—as opposed to questioning whether they’re prudent—is so insidious. Wall Street Journal(Dec 28, 2016) 1adj working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way glaucoma is an insidious disease Syn pernicious, subtle harmful causing or capable of causing harm 2adj intended to entrap Syn dangerous, unsafe involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm 3adj beguiling but harmful insidious pleasures Syn seductive tending to entice into a desired action or state
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