Pernicious

adjective/pɚˈnɪʃəs/character

Definition

Having a harmful effect, especially gradually.

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French pernicios, from Latin perniciōsus (“destructive”), from perniciēs (“destruction”), from per (“through”) + nex (“slaughter, death”).

Synonyms

deleterious, venom

In a sentence

Pernicious incentive structures that reward short-term thinking.