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
Through that longtime relationship and writing Caddy for Life about Edwards, who died from ALS in 2004, Feinstein became dedicated to fighting the insidious disease — including donating half the profits of the book that became one of his 23 to land on The New York Times bestseller list.
—
Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2025
But the insidious nature of the illness rendered those efforts fruitless.
—Orlando Sentinel and Virginian Pilot Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025
In a hybrid world, where our online and offline lives are increasingly interwoven, the erosion of agency can manifest in insidious ways.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
So parties like Germany’s AfD and Hungary’s Fidesz developed an insidious three-step maneuver:
Boldly and loudly champion Israel and its right-wing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to create pro-Jewish bona fides.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insidious
Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2025
But the insidious nature of the illness rendered those efforts fruitless.
—Orlando Sentinel and Virginian Pilot Editorial Boards, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2025
In a hybrid world, where our online and offline lives are increasingly interwoven, the erosion of agency can manifest in insidious ways.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
So parties like Germany’s AfD and Hungary’s Fidesz developed an insidious three-step maneuver:
Boldly and loudly champion Israel and its right-wing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to create pro-Jewish bona fides.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insidious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insidious
Adjective
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Their stories are full of danger: treacherous rivers, unforgiving terrain, and the constant threat of violence and exploitation.—
Alan Taylor,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
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But in between lies a tense and treacherous journey…In Wolof and French with English subtitles.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Shannon Riley, founder and CEO of Building 180 – an art production and consulting agency that arranged the installation – told USA TODAY battery and funding reasons limit the subtle chest motions that mimic breathing to an hour a day, from 5-6 p.m.—
Jorge L. Ortiz,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Here, the power lies in subtle luxury—heritage made tangible.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the jitters still shook him, a false-start whistle blowing on his first 40-yard attempt at February’s NFL combine.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2025
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So the entire trip is based on a false pretense.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Battering ram with deceptive speed (4.51), but struggles catching the ball.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Key attributes: Explosive speed, deceptive footwork for separation.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
11 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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The Times' then-editorial page editor, James Bennet, who had inserted the incorrect claims into the passage, wrote an apology that was posted to the opinion section's social media account.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2025
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Specifically, the extension payment date for taxpayers who log into the IRS website is incorrect.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His interrogator conceded that the police must have gotten the wrong guy and released him within weeks.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
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And it’s been even harder for my daughter, Piper, who never did anything wrong.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insidious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insidious. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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