as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
window washing can indeed be a parlous occupation on a skyscraper
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Recent Examples of parlous
Filling the stage with androgynous women dressed in black and making sometimes terrifying use of pure white light and heavy industrial techno, the latest interpretative dance extravaganza appeared to be a Lynchian comment on the parlous state of today’s world.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 July 2025
Trump and his advisers seem to believe that, despite the country’s allegedly parlous condition, unilateral action on Washington’s part can still force others to capitulate and submit to American terms.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Read More: Where Pope Leo Stands on Specific Issues
Pope Leo also faces challenges of a more practical nature, such as the Vatican’s parlous financial state and its diplomatic ties.
—Aryn Baker, Time, 9 May 2025
Its economic position is parlous, its demographic situation is miserable and its military capacities have atrophied, and most of the chest-thumping about a revival of European power is empty talk and fantasy politics.
—Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlous
Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 July 2025
Trump and his advisers seem to believe that, despite the country’s allegedly parlous condition, unilateral action on Washington’s part can still force others to capitulate and submit to American terms.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Read More: Where Pope Leo Stands on Specific Issues
Pope Leo also faces challenges of a more practical nature, such as the Vatican’s parlous financial state and its diplomatic ties.
—Aryn Baker, Time, 9 May 2025
Its economic position is parlous, its demographic situation is miserable and its military capacities have atrophied, and most of the chest-thumping about a revival of European power is empty talk and fantasy politics.
—Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parlous
Adjective
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Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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This connection would become increasingly important over the twentieth century, as the rapid development of technological infrastructure created ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous sensitivities to geomagnetic storms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Because the vapors are hazardous, scattering moth balls around your closet is always unsafe.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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In several messages, officials cautioned that high-profile vehicles could face difficulty on roadways, and travel may be hazardous.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The young girls are going back to their remote mountain village to take part in the perilous harvest of the yarsagumba, a rare creature, half mushroom, half insect, whose value exceeds that of gold.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
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The 121-year-old park in Midtown is the scene of a child's birthday that turns perilous as gusty winds send a red kite, and the little girl holding it, soaring above the Parthenon.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That cash hoard provides a substantial downside cushion, and consequently makes selling downside puts a less risky affair.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
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Scientists have warned that relying on solar geoengineering would be incredibly risky for humanity.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Rule out any more serious conditions.—
RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
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Springsteen has been open over the years about navigating depression, which began to get serious during his early 30s.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But Poverty Never Left Me Almost every aspect of our life was precarious then.—
Stephanie Land,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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China is in a far more precarious state, mostly due to preexisting problems, but the new trade agreement is unlikely to move the dial much for either of the world’s two largest economies.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlous. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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