insidioso
/insiˈdjoso/
The English word insidious translates to Spanish as insidioso.
The word is used to describe something that causes harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner.
Meaning: causing harm in a stealthy, often gradual, manner (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use the feminine form insidiosa for feminine nouns, the masculine plural form insidiosos for masculine plural nouns and the feminine plural form insidiosas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/insiˈdjoso/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word insidioso shares a root with the English 'insidious', but both trace back to the Latin 'insidiae', which means 'an ambush' or 'a trap'.
- While English uses 'insidious' for many subtle harms, in Spanish, using insidioso to describe a person can imply they are not just sneaky, but actively malicious and prone to setting traps.
- While insidioso describes a stealthy harm, it is also frequently used in Spanish legal and political contexts to describe a 'trap' or a 'calculated snare' set for an opponent.
Examples in context
- una enfermedad insidiosaAn insidious disease
- El virus es muy insidioso.The virus is very insidious.
- Es un error insidioso que destruye la confianza.It is an insidious error that destroys trust.
- Ten cuidado con ese plan insidioso.Be careful with that insidious plan.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing a recent political scandal.
- Mateo¿Notaste el plan insidioso de la empresa?Did you notice the company's insidious plan?
- SofíaSí, Mateo, fue un movimiento muy lento pero peligroso.Yes, Mateo, it was a very slow but dangerous move.
- MateoRealmente es un problema insidioso para todos.It really is an insidious problem for everyone.
- SofíaTienes razón, debemos actuar pronto.You are right, we must act soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “insidious” translations and entries insidioso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries insidioso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
