What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
harmful
Example
Smoking is harmful to your health. [harmful: adjective]
Example
The chemicals in the cleaning product can be harmful if ingested. [harmful: adjective]
pernicious
Example
The pernicious effects of climate change are becoming more evident every year. [pernicious: adjective]
Example
The company's pernicious policies led to a decline in employee morale. [pernicious: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Harmful is more commonly used than pernicious in everyday language. Harmful is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pernicious is less common and more formal, often used in academic or technical writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between harmful and pernicious?
Pernicious is more formal than harmful and is typically used in academic or technical writing. Harmful is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
