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Inimical: meaning, example and synonyms

Inimicaladj. Tending to harm or obstruct; hostile or unfavorable.

Flashcard for Inimical (adjective): tending to harm or obstruct; hostile or unfavorable. Example: Extreme acidity is inimical to most freshwater fish, so the biologists were astonished to find a thriving population in the mine-fed lake. Synonyms: harmful, hostile, adverse, detrimental. Antonyms: favorable, beneficial, friendly, conducive. Memory tip: Latin inimicus = enemy: inimical things act like an enemy. Illustration: two biologists in waders on the shore of an orange-tinted lake near an old mine, one holding up a net with a silver fish, both looking surprised; no words drawn.

Example

Extreme acidity is inimical to most freshwater fish, so the biologists were astonished to find a thriving population in the mine-fed lake.

Part of speech
adjective
Synonyms
harmful, hostile, adverse, detrimental
Antonyms
favorable, beneficial, friendly, conducive
Memory tip
Latin inimicus = enemy: inimical things act like an enemy.

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Check yourself: Inimical in context

Pick the word that best completes each text.

Question 1

High humidity is ______ to the preservation of old manuscripts, encouraging the mold that slowly eats away at paper and ink.

Question 2

Some economists argue that excessive regulation is ______ to innovation, discouraging small firms from testing new ideas.

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