Retired Moderator
Joined: 07 Jun 2014
Posts: 4815
Given Kudos: 0
WE:Business Development (Energy and Utilities)
Re: Jefferson regarded sumptuous living as among the most
[#permalink]
14 Oct 2017, 16:13
Explanation
The “evils” described by this word are “more pernicious” than … well, it doesn’t even really matter — you want a word like pernicious. Perhaps “very bad.”
Grievous, which means “causing grief,” or “very harmful,” will work. Baneful is an even closer synonym to pernicious. Note the trap word epicurean, which relates to fine food and wine (and thus to this sentence), but which is positive and does not fit the blank.
Hence options grievous, baneful are best fit!