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

Relevance

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 The catalyst was the Strait of Hormuz, where the standoff between Washington and Tehran entered a dangerous new phase, pushing the price of Brent crude up by more than 10% to $85/barrel, the highest in four weeks. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 19 July 2026 With boos and jeers ringing around Expo Idaho at the referees, AC Boise continued to pepper the Portland box with dangerous crosses and shots. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 18 July 2026 Quinn Tupaea was a dynamo in midfield for New Zealand and Damian McKenzie was dangerous both from fullback and from flyhalf later in the game. — ABC News, 18 July 2026 Along with dystopian views of Chicago or the World Cup final’s stadium, wildfire smoke is creating dangerous conditions for people to breathe. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dangerous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous

Adjective

Anything other than a plane crash, such as a building fire, medical emergency or hazardous materials spill at the airport, is handled by the Carlsbad Fire Department, and a large incident would bring in mutual aid from other agencies in the region.

— Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
The project is being led by Li Mingtao, chief scientist for planetary defense at the China National Space Administration, and is intended to advance technologies that could one day help protect Earth from hazardous near-Earth objects.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 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

Unfortunately, during the early to mid-twentieth century, negative perceptions of immigrant and ethnic laborers led many outsiders to view their neighborhoods as unsafe, unclean, and detrimental to the social fabric of American cities.

— Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Pruning can stress them even further, creating a scenario that can be detrimental to your plants.

— Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 16 July 2026

Definition of detrimental

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

But this isn’t because of potential health risks or adverse effects in-flight—cabin crew simply dislike pouring it because of its excessive fizziness.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
The scientific debate Scientists do not always agree on what counts as an adverse effect of mindfulness.

— Ronald S. Green, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Definition of adverse

Browse Nearby Words

danger

dangerous

dangers

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Dangerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangerous. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of dangerous

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on dangerous

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

itinerant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes