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
Related Words
See hostile.
Other Word Forms
- inimicality noun
- inimically adverb
- inimicalness noun
- uninimical adjective
- uninimically adverb
Etymology
Origin of inimical
First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin inimīc(us) “unfriendly, hostile” ( enemy ) + -al 1
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.
By contrast, the American republic was founded on an explicit rejection of monarchy and nobility, which the framers viewed as inimical to principles of equality and equal justice under the law.
From Slate • Nov. 4, 2024
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 • Sep. 29, 2024
Finally, much of her poetry made meticulous use of rhyme, which by the mid-20th century was disdained by the poetic establishment as inimical to the making of serious art.
From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2023
Omarova noted that Congress constantly outlaws some banking activities that could theoretically be described as legitimate business dealings, such as money laundering and terrorist financing, to be socially inimical and thus, yes, sub-optimal.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2021
What is the noun corresponding to the adjective "inimical"? Ans.
From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton
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.
