What Does Inimical Mean?

wondrous memeWelcome to the best meme for word nerds, Wondrous Words Wednesday. It’s a great place to ponder those words you come across while reading that give you pause. Visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion to find more interesting words or write your own post and link up to join the fun.

 

 

 

My word comes from an old Merriam-Webster word of the day:

Inimical \i-‘ni-mi-kǝl\ adj from Latin inimicus, meaning enemy

  • Being adverse often by reason of hostility
  • Having the disposition of an enemy
  • Unfriendly

The substitute had years of experience and didn’t flinch under the inimical glares of her freshmen biology students.

Word Nerd Workout

Photo Credit: Gabbo T via flickr CC-BY-SA  Tom Felton doesn't look so inimical in this photo.
Tom Felton (aka Draco) doesn’t look so inimical in this picture. Photo Credit: Gabbo T via flickr CC-BY-SA

Can you think of a synonym for inimical?  Or better yet, a character from fiction who has an inimical disposition.  My synonym is “oppositional” and my character is Draco Malfoy –  I know, I took an easy one.

Your turn!

Thanks for playing,

Julia 

Julia Tomiak
I believe in the power of words to improve our lives, and I help people find interesting words to read. Member of SCBWI.

4 Comments

  1. Drawing on my strict religious childhood training, the first synonym that comes to mind is evil or mean. My character would have to be the devil.

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