inimical
Americanadjective
-
adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful.
a climate inimical to health.
- Synonyms:
- noxious
-
a cold, inimical gaze.
- Synonyms:
- antagonistic
- Antonyms:
- friendly
adjective
-
adverse or unfavourable
-
not friendly; hostile
Synonym Usage
See hostile.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inimical
First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin inimīc(us) “unfriendly, hostile” ( see enemy) + -al 1
Explanation
Censorship is inimical to freedom. So, most teenagers would argue, are curfews. To be inimical is to be harmful, antagonistic, or opposed to something. Inimical comes from the Latin word inimicus, meaning "enemy." It suggests acting like someone's enemy — being adverse, damaging, or downright hostile. It can refer to anything from emotions and actions to public policy. The U.S. government might declare that another nation's actions are inimical to national security — and your mom might declare that eating a dozen doughnuts every morning is inimical to your health. Be careful not to mix up inimical with inimitable, which means too good to be copied.
Vocabulary lists containing inimical
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Lord of the Flies
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Myanmar's state-run English-language newspaper, the Global New Light of Myanmar, has published a joint statement saying both countries underscored the need to prevent the misuse of Myanmar's territory for activities "inimical to their security interests".
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
In a letter to the Supreme Court of Florida, the FTC Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Competition wrote that “Such control by the ABA is inimical to the principles on which competition law rests.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
More than 30 states prohibit title lending or have laws inimical to the industry.
From Salon ● Nov. 15, 2022
Lilly declined to comment on its support of the politicians who passed a law the company thinks is so inimical to its own interests and those of Hoosiers generally.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2022
Winter is an inimical world; its punishment for doing things wrong is sure and prompt: death from cold or death from hunger.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
