as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
window washing can indeed be a parlous occupation on a skyscraper
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of parlous
Then there’s the parlous state of VW Group itself.
—
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
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
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
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
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
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
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Others develop dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms because the autonomic nervous system becomes affected.
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Sometimes, the streets appear glittering; other times, seedy and dangerous.
Adjective
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Concrete casing and tubing – used to seal and extract oil – can lose integrity, causing leaks and potential hazardous gas releases.
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Concerns about hazardous chemicals led police to suggest residents evacuate, although many declined.
Adjective
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in mitigating the risk of wildfires during these perilous conditions.
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The Greek epic, which follows Odysseus on his perilous 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, is a foundational work in Western literature.
Adjective
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Achraf Hakimi looked to have another opportunity to take an open shot on goal in the 54th minute, until Dutch defender Micky van de Ven chased him down and made a risky tackle in the goal box.
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The groups that brought the lawsuit said the rule would require students to forgo their studies or take out riskier private loans.
Adjective
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Beijing has and been accused of serious human violations, including large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang.
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Prosecutors said Anthony Edmond and Rafael Enriquez face the most serious charges, including conspiracy involving firearms trafficking, machineguns and drug trafficking.
Adjective
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The rock bridge is an especially precarious structure that’s located on an unofficial section of the trail, the Star-Advertiser reported.
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This comes at a particularly precarious time for airports, as one of the biggest sporting events in the world is taking place in MIA’s backyard.
Cite this Entry
“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlous. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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