insidious adj

1 beguiling but harmful; "insidious pleasures"

2 intended to entrap

3 working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way; "glaucoma is an insidious disease"; "a subtle poison" [syn: pernicious, subtle]

English

Adjective

1. Producing serious harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner.

   He was unaware that an insidious cancer was consuming him.

2. Intending to entrap.

   Hansel and Gretel were lured by the witch's insidious gingerbread house.

3. Treacherous.

   The battle was lost due to the actions of insidious defectors.

Related terms

• insidiously
• insidiousness

References

• Webster 1913
• Dictionary.com

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