Synonym Chooser

How is the word hazardous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of hazardous are dangerous, perilous, precarious, and risky. While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When is dangerous a more appropriate choice than hazardous?

In some situations, the words dangerous and hazardous are roughly equivalent. However, dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

When could perilous be used to replace hazardous?

Although the words perilous and hazardous have much in common, perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

In what contexts can precarious take the place of hazardous?

While the synonyms precarious and hazardous are close in meaning, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

Where would risky be a reasonable alternative to hazardous?

While in some cases nearly identical to hazardous, 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 hazardous In an environment where underwater communications are hazardous and may expose position, these vehicles must rely entirely on autonomy for navigation and mission execution. Amir Husain, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 The quadruped is currently deployed at car manufacturing sites and in hazardous industrial areas around the world. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025 Some have also been found to contain hazardous chemicals. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025 But a small portion of them, known as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), do merit closer attention. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hazardous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hazardous
Adjective
  • Whatever happens in their final qualifier, against Argentina on Tuesday, La Tri will travel to the World Cup next summer as one of South America’s most dangerous teams.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • To dissidents, she has been seen as a hero putting her life on the line; to Modi’s supporters, as a dangerous subversive who is anti-national and anti-Hindu.
    Anderson Tepper, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • If the story itself was perilous, so was the shoot.
    Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2025
  • And the Orizzonti jury prize was handed to Japanese director Akio Fujimoto for his drama Lost Land, the story of two Rohingya child refugees on a perilous journey to reach Malaysia.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The new vaccines have only been approved for people 65 or older and young people who have other health issues that would make getting COVID especially risky.
    September 11, NPR, 11 Sep. 2025
  • However, these projections assume the industry can overcome its computational bottlenecks—a risky bet if compute architectures remain tethered to the past.
    Lee-Lean Shu, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Thankfully, the most recent accident was less serious, and Sabrina and their unborn child were ultimately okay.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Between them, Sinner and Alcaraz have dispatched their only serious rival in three straight majors, largely making every other match at these tournaments feel almost immaterial.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Today’s action gives us another tool to both address these unsafe conditions and safeguard nearby residents, students, and businesses.
    Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In a psychologically unsafe environment, individuals are less likely to challenge authority, raise concerns, or disclose errors.
    Andrew Binns, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hazardous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hazardous. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on hazardous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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