insidious

[in-sid-ee-uh s] /ɪnˈsɪd i əs/
adjective
1.
intended to entrap or beguile:
an insidious plan.
2.
stealthily treacherous or deceitful:
an insidious enemy.
3.
operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect:
an insidious disease.
Origin
1535-45; < Latin insidiōsus deceitful, equivalent to insidi(ae) (plural) an ambush (derivative of insidēre to sit in or on) + -ōsus -ous
Related forms
insidiously, adverb
insidiousness, noun
uninsidious, adjective
uninsidiously, adverb
uninsidiousness, noun
Can be confused
insidious, invidious.
Synonyms
1. corrupting. 2. artful, cunning, wily, subtle, crafty.
Examples from the web for insidious
  • But the in-air bird deaths aren't due to some apocalyptic plague or insidious experiment-they happen all the time, scientists say.
  • But climate change is insidious and uncertain, inviting denial and procrastination.
  • But a more insidious barrier might be the difficulty of talking about food.
  • Corruption is insidious, and working with a camera is virtually impossible.
  • Ultima does have an addictive quality that is fairly insidious.
  • But the temptation to be dishonest often comes in insidious ways.
  • If they multiply at the same rate as opinions, the process can be insidious, even destructive.
  • The continuing structural changes are insidious because they are so mundane.
  • But the sugar can be a lot more insidious than the vinegar.
  • Computer malware is insidious and dangerous but there are well known limits to the kinds of attacks that it can be used to mount.
British Dictionary definitions for insidious

insidious

/ɪnˈsɪdɪəs/
adjective
1.
stealthy, subtle, cunning, or treacherous
2.
working in a subtle or apparently innocuous way, but nevertheless deadly: an insidious illness
Derived Forms
insidiously, adverb
insidiousness, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin insidiōsus cunning, from insidiae an ambush, from insidēre to sit in; see insessorial
Word Origin and History for insidious
adj.

1540s, from Middle French insidieux (15c.) or directly from Latin insidiosus "deceitful, cunning, artful," from insidiae (plural) "plot, snare, ambush," from insidere "sit on, occupy," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary). Related: Insidiously; insidiousness.

insidious in Medicine

insidious in·sid·i·ous (ĭn-sĭd'ē-əs)
adj.
Being a disease that progresses with few or no symptoms to indicate its gravity.


in·sid'i·ous·ly adv.
in·sid'i·ous·ness n.