pernicious situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pernicious situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a harmful or destructive circumstance that has negative effects, often in a subtle or gradual way. Example: "The community faced a pernicious situation as misinformation spread, leading to distrust among its members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"And yet today, when in effect you don't have a meaningful production code at all, you have a much more pernicious situation, which is a kind of censorship that the artist collaborates in.

The New York Times

One critic even hurled the charge of "implicit racism" at the panelists for not acknowledging the pernicious situation in South Africa and had to be reprimanded by the moderator.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Those pernicious days are behind us, thankfully, but ethically analogous situations still crop up.

The New York Times

"Sting" operations perform a pernicious part of this equation by drawing otherwise harmless individuals into situations wherein they are framed, and then punished, as terrorists.

Vice

An analogous clinical situation is high-dose folic acid treatment of severely vitamin B12-deficient pernicious anaemia patients: anaemia improves but neurological damage worsens, possibly because of accumulation of odd-chain carbon fatty acids [ 42].

Diabetologia

"You are making a bad situation worse by importing into the city tax code a little-understood but really pernicious aspect of the state tax code," said Edmund J. McMahon Jr., a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative research organization.

The New York Times

In fact, the truly pernicious commentary has centred around a matter of false equivalence that, if taken seriously, puts Barack Obama in a no-win situation: the idea that just as George Bush failed the test of Hurricane Katrina, so must Obama pass the challenge of Haiti.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Pernicious quicksand!

The New Yorker

It's a pernicious relationship".

Independent

Domestic abuse is pernicious.

The Guardian - Opinion

That inertia is pernicious.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pernicious situation", ensure that the context clearly illustrates the gradual and subtle harm being caused. Provide specific details about the negative impacts to enhance understanding and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "pernicious situation" in everyday conversations or informal writing. This phrase is better suited for formal or analytical contexts where a nuanced understanding of harm is required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pernicious situation" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "pernicious" modifies the noun "situation". It identifies a specific type of condition or circumstance that is detrimental or harmful, often insidiously so. Ludwig AI indicates that this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pernicious situation" is a phrase used to describe a harmful or destructive circumstance, often one that develops subtly or gradually. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Although not frequently encountered, the phrase appears in reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, indicating its appropriateness in formal and analytical contexts. Related phrases include "harmful circumstance" and "detrimental scenario". When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly conveys the subtle and gradual harm being described, and consider whether a more direct or common alternative might be more suitable for your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful circumstance

Replaces "situation" with "circumstance" and "pernicious" with "harmful", maintaining the core meaning of a damaging scenario.

detrimental scenario

Substitutes "situation" with "scenario" and "pernicious" with "detrimental", emphasizing the negative consequences of the described situation.

damaging predicament

Replaces "situation" with "predicament" and "pernicious" with "damaging", highlighting the challenging and adverse nature of the situation.

destructive state of affairs

Replaces both words with a phrase that emphasizes the potential for ruin and disorder.

adverse condition

Uses a more general term, "condition", to represent the "situation", with "adverse" replacing "pernicious" to indicate unfavorable circumstances.

unfavorable environment

Shifts the focus to the surrounding conditions, using "environment" instead of "situation" and "unfavorable" as a substitute for "pernicious".

malignant development

Uses "development" to suggest an unfolding situation, and "malignant" to convey the harmful, even threatening, nature of the situation.

corrosive climate

Uses a metaphorical term, "climate", to represent the overall atmosphere and "corrosive" to describe the damaging effects.

toxic environment

Replaces 'situation' with 'environment' and 'pernicious' with 'toxic', emphasizing the damaging and poisonous nature of the circumstances.

deleterious circumstance

Replaces "situation" with "circumstance" and "pernicious" with "deleterious" which conveys a similar meaning of causing harm or damage.

FAQs

What does "pernicious situation" mean?

A "pernicious situation" refers to a circumstance that is harmful or destructive, often in a subtle or gradual way. The term "pernicious" implies a slow and insidious form of damage.

How to use "pernicious situation" in a sentence?

You can use "pernicious situation" to describe a problem that slowly and negatively affects something. For example: "The spread of misinformation created a "pernicious situation" within the community."

What are some synonyms for "pernicious situation"?

Alternatives to "pernicious situation" include "harmful circumstance", "detrimental scenario", or "damaging predicament".

What's the difference between "pernicious situation" and "dangerous situation"?

"Pernicious situation" implies a gradual and subtle harm, while "dangerous situation" suggests an immediate and obvious threat. A dangerous situation poses an immediate risk, whereas a "pernicious situation" causes harm over time.