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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 parlous The Conservatives, anticipating a heavy defeat, announced sweeping tax cuts before the election, expecting that Labour would have to raise them once in office, given the parlous state of Britain’s public finances. — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 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 Despite the Soviet state’s parlous position, he was suffused with hope. — Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parlous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for parlous

Adjective

Though Awawdeh was friendly, Jontay knew that he was connected to some dangerous associates, including the Gambino crime family in New York.

— New Yorker, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
But the proliferation of inexpensive first-person-view (FPV) aerial drones has made this incredibly dangerous.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of dangerous

Adjective

And previously unseen chemicals hazardous to human health were detected in a quarter of the 49 inhalable products tested by The Times.

— Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Last year, after several delays, the ship was towed the 1,800 miles from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, where it was stripped of any hazardous materials that could harm the marine environment.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of hazardous

Adjective

There's also a slate of single-stock autocallable ETFs that follow the performance of Palantir Technologies , Super Micro Computer and Nvidia – and these are especially risky for income-seeking investors.

— Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2026
Lawmakers accused Peña of using his political influence to steer hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds into Ueno while regulators overlooked risky insider lending.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of risky

Adjective

Meanwhile, any challenge to investors’ confidence in Huang’s leadership, or any allegation that his personal relationship influenced Nvidia’s lobbying in Washington, could have serious implications for his position and his company’s valuation.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Thirteen people were hospitalized in serious condition, authorities said, though that figure may include the gunman, who underwent surgery after the attack.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of serious

Adjective

Bryce Young has one of the top passer ratings in the NFL when throwing the ball more than 20 yards, so Denver could be in for a precarious matchup with two reserve safeties in the lineup.

— Sam Jane, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026
That put Republicans in the precarious position of defending their record.

— Michael A. Mische, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of precarious

Browse Nearby Words

parlors

parlous

parochial

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlous. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of parlous

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gauntlet

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes