insidious
[ in-sid-ee-uhs ]
/ ɪnˈsɪd i əs /
adjective
intended to entrap or beguile: an insidious plan.
stealthily treacherous or deceitful: an insidious enemy.
operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect: an insidious disease.
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Origin of insidious
OTHER WORDS FROM insidious
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH insidious
insidious invidiousWords nearby insidious
inside track, inside track, the, insider, insider dealing, insider trading, insidious, insight, insightful, insigne, insignia, insignificance
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for insidiousness
British Dictionary definitions for insidiousness
insidious
/ (ɪnˈsɪdɪəs) /
adjective
stealthy, subtle, cunning, or treacherous
working in a subtle or apparently innocuous way, but nevertheless deadlyan insidious illness
Derived forms of insidious
insidiously, adverbinsidiousness, nounWord Origin for insidious
C16: from Latin insidiōsus cunning, from insidiae an ambush, from insidēre to sit in; see insessorial
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for insidiousness
insidious
[ ĭn-sĭd′ē-əs ]
adj.
Being a disease that progresses with few or no symptoms to indicate its gravity.
Other words from insidious
in•sid′i•ous•ly adv.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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