dangerous

1 of 2

adjective

dan·​ger·​ous ˈdān-jə-rəs 

ˈdān-jərs, 

-zhrəs

1

: involving possible injury, pain, harm, or loss : characterized by danger

a dangerous job

2

: able or likely to inflict injury or harm

a dangerous man

dangerously adverb

dangerousness noun

dangerousness

2 of 2

noun

dan·​ger·​ous·​ness ˈdān-jə-rəs-nəs 

ˈdān-jərs-, 

-zhrəs-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being dangerous

Synonyms of dangerous

Adjective

• hazardous
• risky
• perilous
• serious
• unsafe

Choose the Right Synonym for dangerous

dangerous, hazardous, precarious, perilous, risky mean bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury.

dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Examples of dangerous in a Sentence

Adjective

She got into a car accident while driving through a dangerous intersection.

He often drives at dangerous speeds.

The city can be a dangerous place to live.

The storms may cause dangerous flooding.

He is wanted for assault with a dangerous weapon.

the most dangerous of drugs

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Social media has made history infinitely more accessible and considerably more dangerous to navigate. — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Louis Garrel has become a French icon of the screen at only 43, known for his brooding good looks but also his fantastic range in often-dangerous movies. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

The heat dome brought temperatures above 100 degrees in many locations and dangerous heat indices exceeding 110 degrees in some areas. — Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

This is an important distinction between how frequently children encounter a drug and how dangerous an individual exposure can be. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see danger entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dangerous

• armed and dangerous
• dangerous ground/territory
• dangerous waters
• on dangerous ground

Kids Definition

dangerous

adjective

dan·​ger·​ous ˈdānj-(ə-)rəs 

1

: exposing to or involving danger

a dangerous mission

2

: able or likely to cause injury

dangerous weapons

dangerously adverb

dangerousness noun

Legal Definition

dangerous

adjective

dan·​ger·​ous

1

: creating a risk of bodily injury

a dangerous condition of a public building

2

: able or likely to inflict especially serious bodily injury

a dangerous criminal with no regard for human life

a dangerous animal

also : deadly

3

: likely to engage in repeated criminal activity

a dangerous offender

Note: The activity that an offender is likely to engage in need not involve violence in order for the offender to be deemed dangerous.