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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 The 60-year-old has been charged with assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and disorderly conduct, the outlets reported. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 July 2026 Heat and humidity combine in the Kansas City area for a potentially dangerous Sunday and Monday. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026 Further north in Pennsylvania, Lauren Smith and her kids have had a summer full of dangerous weather. — Ava Berger, NPR, 26 July 2026 However, dangerous heat will persist across much of the central and southern United States through at least Monday and continue in portions of the South and Southwest beyond that. — Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dangerous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous

Adjective

As silane and germane are hazardous gases, the researchers also built automated control systems that continuously monitor hundreds of operating conditions, helping maintain both safety and exceptionally high chemical purity throughout production.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026
Campers spent the day indoors to avoid hazardous air quality from wildfire smoke.

— Ava Berger, NPR, 26 July 2026

Definition of hazardous

Adjective

Your liver is responsible for breaking down toxins and filtering them out of the body, essentially detoxifying you from harmful substances and chemicals.

— Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 22 July 2026
At our previous Yale CEO Caucus, over two-thirds of CEOs surveyed told us that Trump’s tariffs had been harmful to their own businesses, and 80% said that tariff costs had been passed on in part to consumers.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 July 2026

Definition of harmful

Adjective

In the Himalayan region, fragile mountains, seismic activity and unpredictable underground conditions make tunnel projects especially risky.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
The new joint venture draws a line between Doronin’s two companies and moves the heavy, risky capital requirements of real estate development into a separate vehicle.

— Katharina Kotrba, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of risky

Adjective

The Odyssey, of course, chronicles Odysseus’ perilous, post-Trojan War journey home to Ithaca to reunite with his wife, Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and their son, Prince Telemachus.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Those scary moments were repeated six minutes later, as the second hostage made the same short but perilous journey.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of perilous

Adjective

The Athletic reported at the time that sources with knowledge of proceedings, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, said these were particularly damaging to Southampton’s case.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Hurricanes are predicted to grow stronger and spin up faster, too, having a more damaging effect.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Definition of damaging

Adjective

The claim and counterclaim are among serious allegations – including of smear campaigns and embezzlement – aired in multiple court cases now swirling around the production of the Australian musical comedy.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Deputies followed behind and reported no serious injuries related to the rolling sedan.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 22 July 2026

Definition of serious

Adjective

Prices reached record highs over the past two years, triggered by adverse weather conditions and poor cocoa harvests that pushed chocolate costs higher and dampened consumer sentiment.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 July 2026
Potential adverse effects identified by the FDA include heart toxicity, infections, pancreatitis, increased or decreased insulin sensitivity, serious immunoresponses, melanoma and death.

— Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 24 July 2026

Definition of adverse

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danger

dangerous

dangers

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“Dangerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangerous. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of dangerous

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