First Known Use: 1573
Dictionary
inimical
adjective in·im·i·cal \i-ˈni-mi-kəl\
: likely to cause damage or have a bad effect
: not friendly
Full Definition of INIMICAL
1
: being adverse often by reason of hostility or malevolence <forces inimical to democracy>
2
a : having the disposition of an enemy : hostile <inimical factions> b : reflecting or indicating hostility : unfriendly <his father's inimical glare>
— in·im·i·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of INIMICAL
Late Latin inimicalis, from Latin inimicus enemy — more at enemy
Related to INIMICAL
- Synonyms
- adversarial, adversary, antagonistic, antipathetic, inhospitable, hostile, jaundiced, mortal, negative, unfriendly, unsympathetic
- Antonyms
- friendly, hospitable, nonantagonistic, nonhostile, sympathetic
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