as in treacherous
formal
causing harm in a way that is gradual or not easily noticed
Most people with this insidious disease have no idea that they are infected. an insidious enemy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insidious
If the other AGIs take the bait, the insidious AGI stands tall as the best, assuming nobody finds out the underhanded gambit at play.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Here’s a truth: Grief manifests itself in all kinds of insidious ways.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2025
An insidious threat has risen to the forefront of many organizations: workplace bullying.
—Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Seldom is the guiding theme of Black Mirror — the insidious ways in which technology alters human behavior — expressed with more lucid clarity.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insidious
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Here’s a truth: Grief manifests itself in all kinds of insidious ways.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2025
An insidious threat has risen to the forefront of many organizations: workplace bullying.
—Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Seldom is the guiding theme of Black Mirror — the insidious ways in which technology alters human behavior — expressed with more lucid clarity.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insidious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insidious
Adjective
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For Tesla and other American manufacturers, the path forward is treacherous.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Kang’s character, Lee Kang-su, walks a treacherous line between crime and law enforcement – a balancing act that presented unique acting challenges.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Our physical body is the antenna for all of these sensations; a relaxed, thawed body can pick up more subtle signals.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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There are subtle peacock tail motifs throughout the hotel, from the geometric patterns in intricate kumiko woodwork headboards to Japanese washi paper designs in the elevator.—
Amber Gibson,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Last year’s 17-9 start proved to be a false spring, one that lulled fans into thinking Craig Counsell replacing David Ross was the real difference between an 83-win Cubs team and the postseason.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2025
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Trump’s false assertions about the outcome of the 2020 election ultimately led a crowd of supporters to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, temporarily disrupting the certification of Biden’s win.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Without resources or expertise to vet influencers properly, these companies become vulnerable to deceptive practices.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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In 2022, the California DMV sued Tesla, saying the company engaged in deceptive marketing and advertising practices around its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Jake Gyllenhaal is his foil as the perfidious Iago, who goads Othello into unreasoning jealousy with lies about his beloved Desdemona (Molly Osborne).—
New York Times,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2025
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Since then, Putin has sought instead to rally the public to the defense of a motherland besieged by the perfidious and cunning West.—
Leon Aron,
The Atlantic,
5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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If a player guesses incorrect groups of words four times, the game ends, and they are defeated.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Apr. 2025
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Many patients walk away with incorrect prescriptions.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But even one in three Republicans said their cost of living was on the wrong track, according to the poll, which surveyed 4,306 U.S. adults nationwide between April 16 and April 21.—
Jason Lange,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Many security breaches occur not because of faulty authorization code, but because the wrong people have been granted access due to human errors and poor visibility.—
Arie Abramovici,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insidious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insidious. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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