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insidioso

insidious

adjective een-see-DYOH-zoh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Quality

Also means

treacherous

Usage Note

Insidioso describes something that appears harmless but conceals danger: una malattia insidiosa ('an insidious disease'), un avversario insidioso ('a treacherous opponent'). It agrees in gender and number: insidiosa (f), insidiosi (m pl), insidiose (f pl). It is a false friend for some learners: it does NOT simply mean 'hostile' but specifically implies hidden or deceptive danger.

Examples

"Il ghiaccio sulla strada è particolarmente insidioso di notte."

Natural Translation

Ice on the road is particularly treacherous at night.

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