1
as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
received an inimical response rather than the anticipated support
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adverse
opposed to one's interests
laws designed to enhance national security that some regard as inimical to cherished freedoms
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inimical
The Soviet experience left a legacy of resentment and cynicism that was rather inimical to genuine public spirited involvement.
—
Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2024
No mainstream party can credibly claim to stand against the role of the military in politics, and many are convinced that doing so would be inimical to their political survival.
—Sarah Khan, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2024
Taiwan is dedicated to continuing to embed itself in the West, a process that is inimical to China’s interests.
—David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2024
Authoritarianism and central planning were thought to be naturally inimical to fresh ideas.
—Matt Sheehan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for inimical
Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2024
No mainstream party can credibly claim to stand against the role of the military in politics, and many are convinced that doing so would be inimical to their political survival.
—Sarah Khan, Foreign Affairs, 5 Mar. 2024
Taiwan is dedicated to continuing to embed itself in the West, a process that is inimical to China’s interests.
—David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2024
Authoritarianism and central planning were thought to be naturally inimical to fresh ideas.
—Matt Sheehan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for inimical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inimical
Adjective
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Andreas typically waits until there have been three instances of potential hostile communication before asking her friend or colleague if everything is OK.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
28 Mar. 2025
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Home to one of the world’s largest refugee populations – most of them from Afghanistan – Pakistan has not always welcomed the foreigners, subjecting them to hostile living conditions and threatening deportation over the years.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The foreign material could pose serious adverse health consequences, leading the FSIS to consider the recall a Class I—the agency's highest level of alert.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
7 Apr. 2025
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And while the metal is usually excreted from the body, and most people experience no adverse side effects, previous research has shown some gadolinium particles have been left behind.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Last month, Moody’s Ratings downgraded its outlook for the higher education sector from stable to negative, citing how federal policy changes have created a more difficult operating environment for colleges and universities.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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There has been quite a bit of negative activity around libraries, specifically around organized groups, introducing legislation to limit people’s access to materials in library collections.—
J.M. Banks,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This line of thinking drives our perception of an unfavorable risk skew, which leads to the third recurring theme: diversification.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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Why would foreigners accept such an unfavorable deal?—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Institute for the Study of War said Friday that Russian strikes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure under the cover of the ceasefire on energy strikes were detrimental to establishing peace.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
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Data shows how detrimental bad habits can be relative to the buy-and-hold investor.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Shiny and minty, these balms provide a gloss-like effect while protecting your lips from the sun’s harmful rays.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2025
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The debate over the law centers on balancing accountability for harmful content with the risks of censorship and stifled innovation.—
Daryl Lim,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inimical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inimical. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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