inimical

Also in·im·i·ca·ble

[ih-nim-i-kuhl]

adjective

1. adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful.

   a climate inimical to health.

   Synonyms: noxious

2. unfriendly; hostile.

   a cold, inimical gaze.

   Synonyms: antagonistic
   Antonyms: friendly

inimical

/ ɪˈnɪmɪkəl /

adjective

1. adverse or unfavourable

2. not friendly; hostile

Other Word Forms

• inimically adverb
• inimicalness noun
• inimicality noun
• uninimical adjective
• uninimically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of inimical¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin inimīc(us) “unfriendly, hostile” ( enemy ) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inimical¹

C17: from Late Latin inimīcālis, from inimīcus, from _in- ¹ + amīcus friendly; see _enemy

Synonym Study

See hostile.

Example Sentences

He delivered a screed on the history of the Middle East, telling his attorney, “Zionism is more inimical to me than communism is to you.”

From Los Angeles Times

It recently backed a Cabinet viewed as inimical to its interests in a bid to unlock reconstruction funds.

From Los Angeles Times

It said the institutions "espouse economic theories and policies that are inimical to American principles of free market and limited government principles."

From BBC

More broadly, a massive and growing media marketing complex culturally "manufactures" modern high-consumption lifestyles, which are inimical to the environment and to human health and well-being.

From Salon

As for those who think there’s something un-American in a wealth tax, they can take up the issue with the Founding Fathers, who considered generationally accumulated wealth to be inimical to a free republic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adverse 
• destructive 
• harmful 
• hostile 
• injurious 
• opposed 
• unfavorable 
• unfriendly