dangerous

adjective dan·ger·ous \ ˈdān-jə-rəs ; ˈdān-jərs , -zhrəs \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: dangerous in a Sentence

Definition of dangerous

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

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dangerously

adverb

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dangerousness

noun

See dangerous defined for English-language learners

See dangerous defined for kids

Examples of dangerous in a Sentence

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 of dangerous from the Web

Learning to practice meditation now can be extremely helpful when dangerous situations arise.

— mckenzie schwark, Teen Vogue, "The Thai Soccer Team Used Meditation to Help Them Survive," 12 July 2018
My personal favorite is Ophillia, a religious devotee who sets off on an ancient pilgrimage through dangerous terrain.

— andrew webster, The Verge, "Octopath Traveler is a modern take on classic Final Fantasy on the Nintendo Switch," 12 July 2018
The Midshipmen and their triple option are always dangerous.

— matthew glenesk, Indianapolis Star, "Ranking Indiana's top 50 college football games in 2018," 11 July 2018
Mina impressed considerably with Colombia at the World Cup and looked especially dangerous in attack, scoring three goals for his country, including one against England in the quarter final that sent the game to extra time.

— SI.com, "West Ham Join Everton and Liverpool in Race for Barcelona Defender After Impressive World Cup," 11 July 2018
UT-Austin policy bans handguns from high-risk parts of campus such as laboratories with dangerous chemicals or areas dedicated to health care.

— matthew choi, star-telegram, "Guns chill free speech, UT Austin professors will argue at federal appeals court," 11 July 2018
Just like Chris, rough seas from Beryl would lead to dangerous beach conditions along the East Coast by the weekend.

— doyle rice, USA TODAY, "Hurricane Chris threatens East Coast with dangerous rip currents through weekend," 11 July 2018
Climate change may mean more cases A 2016 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggested that warmer ocean temperatures may be fueling the growth of dangerous bacteria—including Vibrio—in northern seas.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "Vibrio Vulnificus: What to Know About The 'Flesh-Eating Bacteria' That Has a New Jersey Man Fighting For His Life," 10 July 2018
Several studies have suggested the presence of formaldehyde, a dangerous chemical known to cause cancer in humans.

— ahmed elbenni, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ban on e-cigarettes in Milwaukee takes effect -- what you need to know," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dangerous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dangerous

see ¹danger

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

dangerous Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.