inimical
4
8.9
- adjective
- /ɪˈnɪmɪkəl/
- Formal
:
hostil
- Is there like it is, is the existence of a police union always going to be, you know, inimical in that way?
- deemed inimical
- considered inimical
- inimical to democracy
Examples
-
With rare exceptions, conditions at Indian universities are inimical to the practice of science.
Academic text (1992) -
But whether in the East or West, it was deeply inimical to the nature of human beings.
Academic text (1991) -
I am speaking here of community, not political systems inimical to community.
Academic text (1993) -
So, you know, we can look at groups that have historically been very inimical to each other.
-
The mandate for journalists is to "get" the story from sources with diverse, sometimes inimical interests.
Academic text (2001) -
Both of these conflicts have an international dimension because of the inimical relations between India and Pakistan.
Academic text (1996) -
Music teachers and students would do well to remember that indoctrination is inimical to the development of musical individuality.
Academic text (1996) -
Such a development would be inimical to Clinton's support for a global nonproliferation regime.
Academic text (1999) -
The market encourages secrecy, which is inimical to openness in science.
Academic text (1990) -
The new policy is inimical to the interests of the employees, causing unrest in the workplace.
Synonyms
222
5.2
Deliberately cruel and likely to hurt someone
194
4.6
Showing strong dislike or opposition
132
5.1
Causing physical or mental harm to someone by cruel treatment
116
3.6
Making people feel strong dislike or anger
44
1.0
Not friendly or caring to other people
22
1.9
Not kind or warm to other people
16
6.8
Acting in a hostile way toward someone or something
14
7.0
Not welcoming and difficult to live in or visit
5
4.1
Something that tries to cause harm or trouble
3
4.5
Not friendly and making people feel unwanted or uncomfortable
1
7.4
Not friendly or helpful to people who live near you
1
8.1
To make someone feel afraid or less confident
Hostile toward a person, group, or idea
Looking unfriendly or dangerous so people do not want to go near
Not friendly or warm in behavior
Antonyms
How Hostile
Surface Forms
Morphology
inimical = in + imic + al
Although historically analyzable as Latin in- + imic + -al, the internal root is not a productive or recognisable English base and the form/meaning are not transparently derived for typical learners.
Etymology
Inimical comes from Latin parts in- 'not' and amicus 'friend', so it basically means 'not friendly'. One easy way to remember it is to think of the opposite of amicable — something inimical is 'unfriendly' or harmful to a person, plan, or idea.