pernicious consequences

USAGE SUMMARY

"pernicious consequences" is a correct and common phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe negative, harmful, or damaging results or outcomes of a certain action or situation. Example: The government's decision to cut funding for education will have pernicious consequences for the future of our society, as it will limit the opportunities and resources available to young students.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Peter Neufeld, a director of the project, said Thursday's decision would have pernicious consequences.

The New York Times

This is evidence abuse, and the ease with which politicians get away with it has two pernicious consequences.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It is intolerable for the judicial system to treat people this way," he said, adding that he feared the decision would have pernicious consequences.

The New York Times

And it may be that the sanctification of the later war has had more pernicious consequences than the anathematisation of the former.

The Guardian

But what do we want?" After a lecture on income inequality and its pernicious consequences delivered on the square on Tuesday by Sara Burke, a policy analyst at a New York research organization, and illustrated with charts from I.M.F.

The New York Times

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Wednesday's decision could have pernicious consequences, by, for instance, barring suits from pastors who are sexually harassed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The pernicious consequence of being caught cheating after emphatic false denials is the suspicion that his cheating may continue, perhaps with harder-to-detect drugs.

The New York Times

IN THIS week's print edition, we explore how mortgage subsidies have encouraged banks to lend more to homeowners and less to firms, with pernicious economic consequences.

The Economist

In its place, he substituted a universal, necessary, and absolute metaphysics of right — albeit in a transcendental vein — precisely of the sort that the 'modern' natural law theory of Hobbes and Pufendorf had originally sought to displace because of its pernicious social consequences.

SEP

Pernicious result: Moral hazard.

Forbes

He spoke about "the continuing and growing pernicious and negative consequences of this blockade," saying it was "not just the absence of reconstruction and development" after the war, "but also a situation of development going backwards".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pernicious consequences" when you want to emphasize the severely harmful and subtle, long-lasting effects of something. It is stronger than simply saying "negative consequences".

Common error

Avoid using "pernicious consequences" in casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase is quite formal and can sound out of place if used inappropriately. Simpler terms like "bad results" or "negative effects" may be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pernicious consequences" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "pernicious" modifies the noun "consequences". It describes a type of outcome or result. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pernicious consequences" effectively conveys severe, harmful, and often subtle negative outcomes, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Analysis of its usage shows that it is most common in news, science and formal business contexts. When writing, it's best to reserve "pernicious consequences" for situations where you want to emphasize the insidiousness and long-term harm of a result, distinguishing it from simpler negative effects. While authoritative sources frequently employ the phrase, it's crucial to consider the formality of the context and choose simpler alternatives in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

destructive consequences

Replaces "pernicious" with "destructive", emphasizing the damage caused.

detrimental consequences

Substitutes "pernicious" with "detrimental", highlighting the harmful effects.

damaging repercussions

Replaces "consequences" with "repercussions" and "pernicious" with "damaging", stressing the negative impact.

adverse outcomes

Uses "adverse outcomes" instead of "pernicious consequences", focusing on the unfavorable results.

harmful effects

Simplifies the phrase to emphasize the direct negative impact.

negative impacts

Similar to "harmful effects" but uses "impacts" to describe the broad influence.

deleterious effects

Replaces "pernicious" with the more formal "deleterious", indicating a harmful impact.

unfavorable results

Offers a more general and less severe alternative.

grave implications

Emphasizes the seriousness of the potential outcomes.

dire ramifications

Highlights the extremely serious and far-reaching consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "pernicious consequences" in a sentence?

You can use "pernicious consequences" to describe the harmful and subtle long-term effects of an action or event. For example: "The policy changes had "pernicious consequences" on the local economy."

What are some synonyms for "pernicious consequences"?

Alternatives to "pernicious consequences" include "destructive consequences", "detrimental consequences", and "harmful effects". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "negative consequences" and "pernicious consequences"?

"Pernicious consequences" suggests that the effects are not only negative but also subtly harmful and often long-lasting, whereas "negative consequences" is a more general term for any adverse outcome.

Is "pernicious consequences" a formal phrase?

Yes, "pernicious consequences" is considered a formal phrase. In more informal settings, alternatives like "bad outcomes" or "negative results" might be more appropriate.