PARLOUS Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

parlous

adjective

ˈpär-ləs

Definition of parlous

as in dangerous

involving potential loss or injury window washing can indeed be a parlous occupation on a skyscraper

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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 parlous This isn’t the first time that someone has tried to use AI as a shortcut, with parlous consequences. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 Despite the Soviet state’s parlous position, he was suffused with hope. — Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026 Declining revenues combined with soaring wage costs shifted the club’s finances into a parlous state. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026 The increasingly parlous state of Francophone West Africa’s second-largest economy led to a credit downgrade by S&P in July which has pushed up borrowing costs. — semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parlous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parlous

Adjective

Experts agree that allowing external services to access Apple’s and Google’s operating systems could be dangerous for security and user privacy.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Sources additionally say that officers have burnt out while working overtime month after month — all on top of functioning in an already tense and dangerous environment, likening the situation to a powder keg ready to blow.

— Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026

Definition of 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

Many refugees continue to make perilous sea journeys on rickety boats to flee the violence.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
But regardless of what happens on Starship’s 13th flight, the vehicle—and the nation—still has a long and perilous journey ahead, with many more test flights to come before bringing astronauts to the moon or anywhere else.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 16 July 2026

Definition of perilous

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 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

And their semi-final victory over England was plucked from another incredibly precarious position.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Speaking for my parents, as immigrants in a country that has only gotten, to be honest, more hostile over their lifetime, everything’s always going to feel precarious.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 July 2026

Definition of precarious

Browse Nearby Words

parlors

parlous

parochial

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“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlous. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of parlous

adjective

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