insidious
pronunciation
How to pronounce insidious in British English:
UK [ɪnˈsɪdiəs]
How to pronounce insidious in American English:
US [ɪnˈsɪdiəs]
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- Adjective:
- beguiling but harmful
- intended to entrap
- working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
Word Origin
- insidious
- insidious: see session
- insidious (adj.)
- 1540s, from Middle French insidieux (15c.) or directly from Latin insidiosus "deceitful, cunning, artful," from insidiae (plural) "plot, snare, ambush," from insidere "sit on, occupy," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary). Related: Insidiously; insidiousness.
Example
- 1. Meanwhile , protectionism continues its rise in insidious ways .
- 2. The former is clear , but the latter is far more insidious .
- 3. But that 's what makes the public images of total motherhood so insidious .
- 4. Some conservatives attacked the show as insidious infidel propaganda , and threatened to prosecute its makers .
- 5. But iran personifies a more insidious problem : that of separating civilian from military nuclear technology-and intentions .