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Toxic vs Pernicious - What's the difference?

toxic | pernicious |

As adjectives the difference between toxic and pernicious

is that toxic is having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities while pernicious is causing much harm in a subtle way.

toxic

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (toxicology) Having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities.

    • Synonyms

    * poisonous * venomous

    Related terms

    * cytotoxic * toxicity * toxic shock * toxin

    References

    * * ----

    pernicious

    English

    Adjective

    (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.

    • Synonyms

    * (l)

    Related terms

    * pernicious anaemia

    Derived terms

    * perniciousness * perniciously

    Anagrams

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