Learn English – Word similar to ‘insidious’ or ‘pernicious’, with a non-negative connotation

single-word-requests

I'm looking to describe an effect caused by using a particular construction in English, and the fact that it affects the listener and the whole of their thought processes without the listener being aware of it. The words insidious or pernicious would almost do, but these have negative connotations. The effect here is neither positive or negative.

The use of (x) has a(n) _____ effect on our mental processes.

That sentence requires an adjective, but an adverb would do just as well :

The use of (x) affects our mental processes _____ .

So, a quick recap. Ideally the word would:

  • convey that the process is silent and unnoticed by the speaker
  • convey that it spreads through and affects all of the speaker's thought processes
  • not have any particularly negative or positive connotation

Best Answer

A stimulus that is below the threshold of conscious perception, but nevertheless influences one’s mental processes is said to be subliminal, or to influence them subliminally. As the OP requested, characterising some influence on a person as subliminal, does not imply anything as to whether the influence, or the motivation for it, is good, bad, or neutral. The Wikipedia article on the topic provides a serviceable explanation of the concept. The term started out as a technical term of psychology, but quite a few people have by now heard at least some popular outline of this phenomenon to be able to understand the term. In informal speaking and writing, the term is often used more loosely than among professional psychologists.

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