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a dangerous situation
an unsafe situation
a hazardous situation
a risky situation
a scary situation
a serious situation
dangerous precedent
troublesome precedent
perilous precedent
awful precedent
unhealthy precedent
horrible precedent
dangerous levels
unhealthy levels
risky levels
toxic levels
deadly levels
hazardous levels
a dangerous enemy
a powerful enemy
a deadly enemy
a potent enemy
a wicked enemy
a threatening enemy

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 Israel considered Iran its most dangerous enemy for decades. Greg Myre, NPR, 28 June 2025 If the positions rest on loyalty, or fealty, or even punishment, how is that person supposed to deal with being isolated with presumably dangerous criminal inmates in the middle of a swamp? Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025 Myung-gi suggests that Min-su may be dangerous as a drug addict seemingly going through withdrawals, and the group votes to take him out first. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025 And here, the country is experiencing a profound—and dangerous—shift. Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dangerous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous
Adjective
  • Many analysts believe that robots like the K2 are likely to complement human workers by taking over monotonous or hazardous duties, which allows people to focus on more complex, creative, or supervisory tasks.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
  • There’s more stupid romance around harder substances but few chemicals are more hazardous to ambition than THC.
    Benjamin Hale June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Research has found that building roads can fragment habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and increase erosion and sediment pollution in drinking water, among other potentially harmful outcomes.
    Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • This kind of leadership without empathy is not only unsustainable but actively harmful to morale and performance.
    Jody Michael, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • After multiple years of development invested in most of Booth’s draftees, that type of deal would also be risky in its own right.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 June 2025
  • Howe may have a change of approach in mind, but such a hefty outlay on a player who doesn’t solve an obvious tactical conundrum is risky at the very least.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is especially detrimental because personal health doesn’t send urgent alerts the way business metrics do.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Along with cannabis, alcohol consumption and smoking can be detrimental to fertility.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The deepest fear: Just four years after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan ended America's longest war, the United States is now enmeshed in another war in a volatile region, with perilous and uncertain consequences.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 23 June 2025
  • The Darién Gap, long a perilous route for millions of migrants traveling north toward the United States, has also become a pathway for the northward spread of the New World screwworm—a parasitic fly now challenging decades of containment efforts.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • The primary risks for the Midwest will be damaging winds, hail, flash flooding and the possibility of tornadoes.
    Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 23 June 2025
  • The National Weather Service issued a moderate risk alert for severe thunderstorms across parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, warning that conditions could lead to tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail throughout Friday evening and overnight.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some 182 people with serious mental illness in the city jails are waiting for one of those beds, city correction officials said Thursday.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025
  • So far, the project has helped some counties reduce their administrative separation populations by up to 90% through limiting isolation to cases of recent violence and banning the use of restrictive housing for people with serious mental illness.
    Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • The other four are: Columbus, New Mexico, on July 14 Santa Teresa, New Mexico, on July 21 Del Rio, Texas, on August 18 Laredo, Texas, on September 15 Each reopening will be evaluated for adverse effects before proceeding to the next phase.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Then, notify the FDA MedWatch adverse event program.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dangerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangerous. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dangerous

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