Meaning & use
insidiously
In a way that spreads gradually and causes harm without being noticed until the damage is done.
See it in a sentence
The disease progressed insidiously for years before any symptoms became noticeable.
Corruption had insidiously taken hold of the department long before anyone reported it.
A note on using this word
Insidiously almost always describes something harmful; it is not used for gradual, positive change.
Words with a similar meaning
stealthilysubtly
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
openly
Make it your own
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