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 If this research finds evidence of harm, many will dismiss it as the work of a secretary who has long argued that vaccines are dangerous. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026 During his funeral last year, he was described as a selfless colleague, dedicated public servant and someone who regularly volunteered for the most dangerous assignments. — ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026 Swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026 Fresh to strong winds will produce dangerous boating conditions, high surf, life-threatening rip currents, and moderate beach erosion through at least the first half of the coming week, forecasters said. — Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dangerous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous

Adjective

If enough collisions occur, certain orbital regions could become extremely hazardous for future missions.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Today, the vast majority of this hazardous waste remains locked in temporary storage facilities across the globe.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of hazardous

Adjective

Social media giant Meta was hit with a class action lawsuit in Australia on behalf of children and teenagers who allegedly suffered harm over the addictive design features and exposure to harmful content on its platforms Facebook and Instagram.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Their contracts can run hundreds of pages, making harmful terms easy to bury.

— Emma Witman, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of harmful

Adjective

Revenue bonds are generally viewed as riskier than other types of government bonds, in part because they’re backed by the promise of revenue from a specific project — in this case, payment by individual borrowers.

— Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
The pain has been felt most acutely in the riskier credits with high-yield spreads rising about 70 basis points since late September.

— Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of risky

Adjective

The company still faces numerous personal injury claims and a separate federal case involving a group of nationwide school districts that also focus on allegations that apps like Instagram have had detrimental effects on the well being of children.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Often, those firms’ IT heads think those changes are detrimental.

— Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of detrimental

Adjective

Christopher Nolan’s recent film reminded me of another time when the world was awash in ambiguity and leaders needed to navigate the perilous voyage across unfamiliar territory.

— Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Two Utah residents who hiked Mount Shasta in Northern California were rescued after they became stranded during a perilous 36-hour journey through freezing conditions.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of perilous

Adjective

Trump could decide that appearing powerless as Iranian attacks push up prices is more damaging than another round of military strikes.

— Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Lycopene can help protect blood vessels from the damaging effects of unstable molecules known as free radicals.

— MD Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of damaging

Adjective

The Tallahassee Police Department said in a statement that 11 of the 12 were shot and that three victims had serious injuries, with one minor in serious condition.

— Samantha Cookinham, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
Bake this classic all the way through for a light and tender crumb, or cut the bake time short for serious gooey goodness in the center.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of serious

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danger

dangerous

dangers

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Style

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

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Synonyms of dangerous

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