insidious

/ɪnˈsɪdiəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈsɪdiəs/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈsi-dē-əs/ (ame, mw)

insidious — 形容詞

  • insidiouspositive
  • more insidiouscomparative
  • most insidioussuperlative

1. Something that is insidious spreads or develops slowly and in a hidden way, caus

1.形容詞B2
釋義

潛伏的

暗中逐漸造成傷害的

Something that is insidious spreads or develops slowly and in a hidden way, causing serious harm that is not noticed until it is too late to stop it.

例句

High blood pressure is an insidious condition that can damage the heart and blood vessels for years with no symptoms.

高血壓是一種潛伏性的疾病，可能在多年內悄悄損害心臟和血管，而不出現任何明顯症狀。

insidious condition — illness that progresses unnoticed

The insidious spread of false information on social media slowly made people distrust all news sources.

社群媒體上假資訊的潛伏性散播，慢慢讓人們不再信任所有新聞來源。

insidious spread of [something harmful]

同義詞
  • stealthy

    focuses on the secrecy of movement or action; 'stealthy' is often about avoiding detection in a specific moment, while 'insidious' implies gradual, long-term harm

  • subtle

    less negative; 'subtle' simply means hard to notice, while 'insidious' carries the strong sense of resulting harm

  • pernicious

    more formal and stronger; 'pernicious' emphasises the destructive effect itself, while 'insidious' emphasises the hidden, gradual way harm happens

反義詞
  • obvious

    an obvious problem is noticed immediately; 'insidious' describes something that stays hidden

  • blatant

    blatant harm is open and unmistakable; the opposite of hidden and slow

用法筆記

Subject is typically a condition, process, or influence whose harmful effects accumulate slowly — not used for immediate or obvious threats.

常見錯誤

❌The earthquake caused insidious damage.
✅The earthquake caused sudden, visible damage.
💡Earthquakes are immediate and obvious; use 'insidious' for slow, hidden harm like a leaking gas pipe.
❌She felt an insidious pain in her arm.
✅She felt a sharp pain in her arm.
💡Use 'insidious' for harm that develops gradually, not for a sudden sensation.

2. Describes a person or action that secretly waits for the right moment to trap, d

2.形容詞C1
釋義

陰險的

暗中伺機陷害別人的

Describes a person or action that secretly waits for the right moment to trap, deceive, or harm someone through dishonest and hidden methods.

例句

An insidious colleague had been quietly spreading lies about Binta to ruin her chances of promotion.

一名陰險的同事一直在暗地裡散播關於 Binta 的謊言，企圖破壞她升遷的機會。

The spy used insidious methods to turn team members against each other over many months.

這名間諜利用陰險的手段，在好幾個月的時間裡挑撥團隊成員之間的關係。

insidious methods — dishonest tactics to harm others

同義詞
  • treacherous

    more direct and personal; 'treacherous' describes someone who betrays trust, while 'insidious' focuses on the hidden, gradual method of the betrayal

  • deceitful

    emphasises the act of lying or hiding the truth; 'insidious' adds a sense of patient, long-term scheming

  • crafty

    slightly less formal; 'crafty' suggests clever trickery that may not be as harmful as 'insidious' implies

反義詞
  • honest

    an honest person deals openly and fairly — the opposite of someone who secretly plots

  • straightforward

    straightforward actions are direct and clear, unlike insidious scheming

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (SUBTLE HARM): sense 2 focuses on deliberate, deceptive human intent to entrap, whereas sense 1 describes impersonal processes or conditions that cause harm passively.

常見錯誤

❌The insidious virus infected his computer.
✅Use sense 1 (SUBTLE HARM) for diseases and impersonal processes; sense 2 (TREACHEROUS) fits people who actively plot against others.

3. Describes something that seems attractive, pleasant, or desirable on the surface

3.形容詞C1
釋義

誘人墮落的

表面誘人卻帶來傷害的

Describes something that seems attractive, pleasant, or desirable on the surface, but secretly causes harm or leads people to make bad choices.

例句

The insidious charm of the advertisement made children beg for toys their parents could not afford.

那則廣告誘人墮落的魅力，讓孩子們吵著要父母買他們既不需要也負擔不起的玩具。

insidious charm — surface attraction that hides harm

Suki was drawn to the insidious promises of a part-time job that claimed to pay ten times the normal wage.

Suki 被那份時薪高達一般工資十倍以上的兼職工作吸引，但那份工作充滿誘惑性的陷阱。

同義詞
  • seductive

    focuses on the power to attract; 'seductive' can be neutral or positive, while 'insidious' always implies hidden harm

  • alluring

    emphasises the power of attraction without necessarily implying danger; 'insidious' makes clear that the attraction is a trap

  • deceptively attractive

    a phrase rather than a single word; like 'insidious', it highlights the gap between surface appeal and actual danger

反義詞
  • wholesome

    wholesome things are genuinely good and healthy, the opposite of something that seems good but is secretly harmful

  • reputable

    a reputable offer is trustworthy and transparent, unlike an insidious one that hides its dangers

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (SUBTLE HARM): sense 3 involves active appeal or attraction that draws people in, whereas sense 1 describes a neutral process that simply goes unnoticed. The object of the attraction believes they are making a good choice.

常見錯誤

❌The insidious music helped me relax.
✅The soothing music helped me relax.
💡Something truly pleasant and harmless is not 'insidious'; the word requires an element of hidden danger beneath the attraction.