insidious
adjective/ɪnˈsɪdiəs/
/ɪnˈsɪdiəs/
(formal, disapproving)- spreading gradually or without being noticed, but causing serious harm
- the insidious effects of polluted water supplies
Oxford Collocations DictionaryInsidious is used with these nouns:- threat
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin insidiosus ‘cunning’, from insidiae ‘an ambush or trick’, from insidere ‘lie in wait for’, from in- ‘on’ + sedere ‘sit’.Want to learn more?
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insidious