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
  • Meanwhile, the financial clout of the industry has grown considerably, resulting in a new, more dangerous problem.
    — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Attempting to de-escalate the scare, Rospotrebnadzor declared the regional sanitary situation stable after secondary testing showed no traces of dangerous pathogens linked to Shipilova’s research.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • Ensure heat is working so tenants don’t need space heaters, which can be particularly hazardous in buildings with older electrical systems.
    — Lillian Bonsignore, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The action comes as Livingston locals raised concerns about the film’s impact on local business — and notably the city’s sole food bank — as well as improper notification about hazardous stunts.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of hazardous
Adjective
  • The Phillies survived their perilous five-day scare and are indeed headed to the playoffs for the fifth straight season after beating the Rays 7-3 to clinch the final NL wild-card berth.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Miéville is able to flex certain muscles—perilous for most fiction writers—in ways that support the dramatic tension rather than drain it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of perilous
Adjective
  • While a model alone might flag a transaction as risky, the decisions may contain high levels of inaccuracy without orchestrating the signals.
    — Harsh Verma, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The acquisition was considered risky because semiconductor manufacturing is highly cyclical and requires substantial capital investment.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of risky
Adjective
  • Doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs) treat all foot conditions ranging from toenails, bunions, fractures, and plantar fasciitis to serious diabetic foot complications that can lead to limb amputation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • What began as a hobby to help explain complex redistricting cases more effectively has grown into a serious media operation.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • Kerry’s pure love for her son despite his precarious origins is a meaningful emotional fulcrum.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The Financial Times reports that nearly a quarter of its revenue in 2025 came from just two clients, which is a precarious situation for any company, let alone one trying to tempt prospective investors into a $2 trillion IPO.
    — Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of precarious

Browse Nearby Words

parlors
parlous
parochial
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Cite this Entry

“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parlous. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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