parlous

adjective

ˈpär-ləs How to pronounce parlous (audio)
Definition of parlousnext
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury window washing can indeed be a parlous occupation on a skyscraper

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  1. dangerous
  2. hazardous
  3. perilous
  4. risky
  5. serious
  6. precarious
Adjective
  • In November 2021, crew members took shelter inside their spacecraft after a Russian anti-satellite weapons test created a dangerous cloud of debris.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In 2015, Chicago’s public health department identified three cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a highly dangerous pathogen that can kill within hours.
    — Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • If enough collisions occur, certain orbital regions could become extremely hazardous for future missions.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Today, the vast majority of this hazardous waste remains locked in temporary storage facilities across the globe.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of hazardous
Adjective
  • One soldier waited two days for help and could not walk; the drone’s flight to safety took less than 15 minutes, illustrating its potential to replace perilous ground rescues.
    — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The truckers that have managed to ferry water into Taiz have in some cases tripled their rates to make the perilous journey.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of perilous
Adjective
  • Revenue bonds are generally viewed as riskier than other types of government bonds, in part because they’re backed by the promise of revenue from a specific project — in this case, payment by individual borrowers.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The pain has been felt most acutely in the riskier credits with high-yield spreads rising about 70 basis points since late September.
    — Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of risky
Adjective
  • The Tallahassee Police Department said in a statement that 11 of the 12 were shot and that three victims had serious injuries, with one minor in serious condition.
    — Samantha Cookinham, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Bake this classic all the way through for a light and tender crumb, or cut the bake time short for serious gooey goodness in the center.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has warned that AI stocks have become detached from financial fundamentals, pushing markets to precarious highs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Duckett revived England from a precarious 52-4 with a 93-run stand with Sam Curran, who made 42 off 52 balls.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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