- Today's Word
Pernicious
per-NISH-us
Definition
(adjective) Causing harm in a gradual or subtle way.
Example
Unchecked misinformation can have a pernicious effect on public trust.
Fun Fact
Back in the 15th century, pernicious was a word used to describe deadly disease or outright destruction—especially during outbreaks and plagues. But over time, its meaning shifted from the obvious to the insidious. Today, it’s used to describe things like toxic relationships, systemic inequality, or manipulative rhetoric—all of which may not seem dangerous at first, but quietly cause real harm over time.
(adjective) Failing to act or resist; passive and yielding, especially when action is urgently needed.
The board’s supine response to the mounting crisis — endless meetings, no decisions, no accountability — allowed a manageable problem to become a catastrophic one.
Supine derives from the Latin supinus, meaning “lying face upward” or “thrown backward,” rooted in the same base as sub- (“under”). It entered English in the 15th century with both its literal meaning — lying flat on one’s back — and its figurative sense of moral or intellectual passivity. The physical image is the etymology: a person flat on their back, facing the sky, unable or unwilling to rise and meet what’s coming.