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
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
Such parlous conditions have turned Syrian campuses into hotbeds of corruption and scientific fraud.
—Byrichard Stone, science.org, 23 Dec. 2024
The movie examines the experiences of four Mexican journalists to illustrate the parlous state of the press in Mexico, where at least 165 journalists have been killed or gone missing since 1992.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
With figures like this on the table and given the current parlous state of the industry, surely the most pertinent question is whether movie theaters can afford not to be thinking about how best to welcome in their customers with different needs.
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—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlous
Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
Such parlous conditions have turned Syrian campuses into hotbeds of corruption and scientific fraud.
—Byrichard Stone, science.org, 23 Dec. 2024
The movie examines the experiences of four Mexican journalists to illustrate the parlous state of the press in Mexico, where at least 165 journalists have been killed or gone missing since 1992.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
With figures like this on the table and given the current parlous state of the industry, surely the most pertinent question is whether movie theaters can afford not to be thinking about how best to welcome in their customers with different needs.
Follow me on LinkedIn.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parlous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parlous
Adjective
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After landing, the most dangerous times, statistically speaking, are takeoff, approach, and initial climb.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
29 June 2025
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And the Santa Barbara temblor revealed just how dangerous brick buildings built in that era could be.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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By taking on hazardous or monotonous jobs, AEON allows human workers to focus on higher-value activities, helping companies remain competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
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Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is paramount in averting wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 July 2025
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The rap scene, then steeped in gangster culture, was perilous.—
Janine Rubenstein,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Much of this inventory is now sitting idle on the market, as buyers steer away from a likely risky investment.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
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This represents a highly unorthodox and potentially risky approach to trade.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Historians often describe Flammarion more as a popularizer than a serious scientist, but this should not diminish his accomplishments.—
Matthew Shindell,
Space.com,
29 June 2025
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To be sure, there have been positive signs that the revival was working, not least because the Tata’s were prepared to deploy serious capital and effort to back its ambitions.—
Vasuki Shastry,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
For graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in particular, funding uncertainty has placed them in a precarious position.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2025
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Trump’s use of the term comes at a precarious time, as instances of antisemitism and hate crimes towards Jewish Americans have surged in recent years, especially since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlous. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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