1
obsolete
: dangerously shrewd or cunning
2
: full of danger or risk
parlously
adverb
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Parlous is both a synonym and a derivative of perilous; it came to be as an alteration of perilous in Middle English. (Perilous is derived from the Anglo-French perilleus, which ultimately comes from the Latin word for "danger," perīculum.) Both words are documented in use from at least the 14th century. Seven centuries later, both remain in steady use, often modifying state or times; however, perilous is, by far, the preferred synonym. More than likely, this is from having the familiar peril as a base.
Examples of parlous in a Sentence
The company is in a parlous financial situation.
He talked about the parlous state of the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Gritti’s dock-manager to Grazer’s left, foreground right in the shot, may be suspicious that his sturdy right elbow, offered for support during that parlous little leap from land to sea, is being roundly ignored.
—
Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Trump and his advisers seem to believe that, despite the country’s allegedly parlous condition, unilateral action on Washington’s part can still force others to capitulate and submit to American terms.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
That political dissension was compounded by the country’s parlous economic situation; Pakistan came close to a debt default in 2023, at a time when crippling inflation reached 38 percent.
—Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
Read More: Where Pope Leo Stands on Specific Issues
Pope Leo also faces challenges of a more practical nature, such as the Vatican’s parlous financial state and its diplomatic ties.
—Aryn Baker, Time, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlous
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Trump and his advisers seem to believe that, despite the country’s allegedly parlous condition, unilateral action on Washington’s part can still force others to capitulate and submit to American terms.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
That political dissension was compounded by the country’s parlous economic situation; Pakistan came close to a debt default in 2023, at a time when crippling inflation reached 38 percent.
—Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025
Read More: Where Pope Leo Stands on Specific Issues
Pope Leo also faces challenges of a more practical nature, such as the Vatican’s parlous financial state and its diplomatic ties.
—Aryn Baker, Time, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlous
Cite this Entry
“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parlous. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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