Meaning & use
insidious
Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way that causes harm before it is noticed or understood.
See it in a sentence
The disease is especially dangerous because its insidious early symptoms are easy to dismiss.
Insidious rumors slowly damaged her reputation long before she realized what was happening.
A note on using this word
Almost always used negatively, describing harm that spreads quietly, unlike "sudden" or "obvious" dangers.
Words with a similar meaning
stealthytreacherous
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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