DANGEROUS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'dangerous' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of dangerous are hazardous , perilous , precarious , and risky . While all these words 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

Q: When could 'hazardous' be used to replace 'dangerous'?

The meanings of hazardous and dangerous largely overlap; however, hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure. // claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

Q: When can 'perilous' be used instead of 'dangerous'?

The synonyms perilous and dangerous are sometimes interchangeable, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger. // perilous mountain roads

Q: When might 'precarious' be a better fit than 'dangerous'?

In some situations, the words precarious and dangerous are roughly equivalent. However, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty. // earned a precarious living by gambling

Q: When is it sensible to use 'risky' instead of 'dangerous'?

The words risky and dangerous can be used in similar contexts, but risky often applies to a known and accepted danger. // shied away from risky investments

dangerous

adjective

ˈdān-jə-rəs

Definition of dangerous

as in hazardous

involving potential loss or injury the soldiers were specially selected to go on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harmful

causing or capable of causing harm the common knowledge that smoking is dangerous to one's health hasn't stopped some people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dangerous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of dangerous are hazardous, perilous, precarious, and risky. While all these words 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

When could hazardous be used to replace dangerous?

The meanings of hazardous and dangerous largely overlap; however, hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When can perilous be used instead of dangerous?

The synonyms perilous and dangerous are sometimes interchangeable, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

When might precarious be a better fit than dangerous?

In some situations, the words precarious and dangerous are roughly equivalent. However, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

When is it sensible to use risky instead of dangerous?

The words risky and dangerous can be used in similar contexts, but risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dangerous But the dangerous downside, of course, is that people without licenses, especially children, could potentially do this and put themselves or others in a world of hurt. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026 What makes these behaviors especially dangerous is that they’re often disguised as concern or devotion. — Mark Travers, CNBC, 5 July 2026 To prove his loyalty (and survive), J must play by her rules and navigate her dangerous inner circle. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 Stay safe amid dangerous heat All are invited to celebrate America's milestone on the National Mall. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dangerous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous

Adjective

Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
Response efforts were slowed as debris blocked roads and live wires created hazardous conditions.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of hazardous

Adjective

The as-yet-untitled series will follow the story of multiple families and campaigners including Ellen Roome, who believes that the tragic death of her beloved 14-year-old son Julian ‘Jools’ Sweeney could have been linked to harmful social media.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 July 2026
And planting near any street could expose trees to harmful salt spray when roads are treated in the winter.

— Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026

Definition of harmful

Adjective

When a drug manufacturer validates a production process using a particular filtration platform or bioprocessing system, changing suppliers becomes expensive, time-consuming and potentially risky.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 14 July 2026
Another solution is to train entirely separate models with the risky data stripped out — which is effective, but expensive to do repeatedly.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Definition of risky

Adjective

Dauvin warns that piling obligations onto streamers could be detrimental to the French film and television landscape.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 July 2026
Salted pasta water can be detrimental to soil and plant health, and even unsalted water can promote the growth of unwanted fungi.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026

Definition of detrimental

Adjective

Many refugees continue to make perilous sea journeys on rickety boats to flee the violence.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
But regardless of what happens on Starship’s 13th flight, the vehicle—and the nation—still has a long and perilous journey ahead, with many more test flights to come before bringing astronauts to the moon or anywhere else.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 July 2026

Definition of perilous

Adjective

The inmate claimed that he was told Kelly and his attorneys were planning to expose damaging information, as the filing alleged that officials violated attorney-client privilege by intercepting personal correspondence.

— Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 15 July 2026
Ultimately, Moraff and Fan deemed the issue politically damaging and moved on from Williams to Platner — who was already the subject of a 2024 Facebook post warning women not to get involved with him.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of damaging

Adjective

Surrounding areas are under a very serious Level 3 of 4 risk.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
However, the area does have serious needs for infrastructure improvement, such as addressing flooding that has long affected neighborhoods like Argentine during rainy times of year.

— Sofi Zeman July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026

Definition of serious

Adjective

These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.

— Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 4 July 2026
Valentine also testified that the FDA encourages infant formula companies to send in all adverse event reports and that nothing prevented Mead Johnson from doing so.

— David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of adverse

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dangers

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“Dangerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangerous. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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