Calamitous vs Pernicious - What's the difference?

As adjectives the difference between calamitous and pernicious

is that calamitous is concerning or involving calamity, disastrous while pernicious is causing much harm in a subtle way.

(en adjective)

Concerning or involving calamity, disastrous.

:The city was struck by a calamitous cyclone.

* destructive * fatal

(en adjective)

Causing much harm in a subtle way.

* 1911 , ,

Puritanism no longer employs the thumbscrew and lash; but it still has a most pernicious hold on the minds and feelings of the American people.

Causing death or injury; deadly.

* (l)

* perniciousness * perniciously