inimical

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "inimical" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective which means unfriendly, hostile, or harmful. Example sentence: Since the new policy was set in place, the company's inimical stance toward its employees has become increasingly apparent.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is also inimical to the spirit that sees a nation through its difficulties.

The Guardian - Opinion

The virtue of so much of the programme makes it all the more irritating that the scheme is tarnished by association with a policy that relies on style rather than substance - with the little substance it contains being inimical to the interests of responsible democracy.

The Guardian - Opinion

But deflation – falling prices – is inimical to growth, as the recent experience of Japan has demonstrated.

The Guardian - Business

Truffaut famously said that the words "British" and "cinema" were inimical.

The Guardian

In 2007 an alert customs official in Buenos Aires opened a suitcase stuffed with $800,000 in cash that was, its Venezuelan owner later confessed, a donation to Ms Fernández's election campaign.Alba was inimical to Brazil's ambitions to lead South America.

The Economist

The idea of going back to a tacit bargain that tolerates organised crime, favoured by some in Mexico, is inimical to the rule of law, and thus to democracy and a free society.

The Economist

Less surprisingly, he continues to enrage Hungary's Socialist opposition, as well as the liberals and many of Budapest's intelligentsia and press, with his ruthless pragmatism mixed with ideological zeal, which they all decry as inimical to Hungary's unschooled democracy and against the spirit of pluralism and fair play.

The Economist

As it entered the 1980s, India could not have been more closely regulated, sheltered or taxed, nor the attitude of its political elites more inimical to enterprise.

The Economist

The Bolshevik leader's mindset was revealed by the question "What is he?", thus reducing men to reifications of inimical ideologies.

The Economist

(Full disclosure: I used to write for them).Though the editorial makes clear in great detail that they think there are many reasons to prefer Mr Obama, the board nevertheless has a lot of nice thing to say about John McCain his history of principled stands inimical to his electoral prospects and to his standing in his own party, for one.

The Economist

In its global pursuit of sources of energy and raw materials to fuel its economic growth, China has strengthened bonds with countries distinctly inimical to American interests, including Venezuela, Sudan, Zimbabwe and most crucially Iran, a big supplier of oil to China.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "inimical" with prepositions like 'to' to clearly indicate what is being harmed or opposed.

Common error

Avoid using "inimical" in everyday conversation or informal writing. Its formal tone and specific meaning are better suited for academic, professional, or journalistic contexts.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "inimical" functions primarily to describe something as harmful, unfavorable, or hostile. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples show its use to qualify abstract nouns, indicating opposition or detriment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inimical" is an adjective denoting something harmful, unfavorable, or hostile, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is commonly used in formal and scientific contexts, particularly in news and media, scientific publications, and business communications. The term effectively expresses a negative relationship between two entities, highlighting opposition or harm. While grammatically correct, "inimical" should be reserved for formal settings, avoiding its use in casual conversation. The related phrases offer alternatives such as "harmful", "hostile" and "adverse", providing nuances for more precise expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful

Focuses specifically on causing damage or detriment.

hostile

Emphasizes antagonism and a lack of friendliness.

adverse

Highlights unfavorable conditions or effects.

detrimental

Stresses the damaging and negative consequences.

unfavorable

Indicates a lack of support or approval.

antagonistic

Highlights active opposition and conflict.

deleterious

Emphasizes subtly or unexpectedly harmful effects.

prejudicial

Focuses on causing harm to rights or claims.

contrary

Highlights direct opposition or incompatibility.

undesirable

Indicates something unwanted or unwelcome.

FAQs

How can I use "inimical" in a sentence?

Use "inimical" to describe something harmful or unfavorable to something else. For example, "The new regulations are "inimical to" economic growth."

What words are similar to "inimical"?

Synonyms for "inimical" include "harmful", "hostile", and "adverse". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "inimical for" something?

No, the correct preposition to use with "inimical" is "to". Say something is ""inimical to"" something else.

What's the difference between "inimical" and "detrimental"?

"Inimical" often implies a broader or more fundamental opposition, while "detrimental" focuses on the damaging effects. Something "inimical to" progress actively hinders it, while something "detrimental to" progress may simply slow it down.