PERIL Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

peril 1 of 2

noun

ˈper-əl

Definition of peril

as in threat

something that may cause injury or harm life is full of unexpected perils

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in risk

the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil they were unhappy about sending their son into peril overseas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

peril

2 of 2

verb

ˈper-əl

as in to endanger

to place in danger a tribute to the men and women who, as firefighters, peril their lives daily

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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 peril

Noun

It's also tested to MIL-STD 810H, which means it can be put through environmental peril that the Series 12 might not survive. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 But the young core that helped Detroit reach this point is undeniably in peril. — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Inequity is an economic design flaw that leaders ignore at their peril. — Tynesia Boyea-Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026 Corus Entertainment Gossling knows the perils and profits of traditional pay TV and has positioned the Canadian broadcast giant to revamp its business model for the streaming age. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peril

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peril

Noun

Ben Ross tagged at third, but Lowe’s strong one-bounce throw got to catcher Moisés Ballesteros in time for a sweeping tag-out of Ross out at home to end Minnesota’s threat.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, a new tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic, named Fay, but does not appear to pose a threat to land.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of threat

Noun

That designation serves as a clear reminder of the elevated risks accompanying potential high yields.

— , CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026
Presley Gerber’s death at age 27 has renewed questions about overdose risk, withdrawal complications and the challenges of addiction recovery.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of risk

Verb

It is intended to help locate missing Black people who are considered endangered because of their age or the suspicious circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

— Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Earlier this month, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Thomas with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death and first-degree murder.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of endanger

Noun

Researchers think this happens because swapping stories about social bonds, unexpected dangers and survival are advantageous for our evolution.

— Hannah Little, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2026
For much of our evolutionary history, the sounds of birds going about their business may have been a reassuring signal that the surrounding environment was free of danger.

— Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of danger

Noun

Furthermore, if a movie (any movie) isn’t doing $3,000-$4,000 a screen in a weekend, that screen is in serious jeopardy.

— Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
And when scores of families fall off SNAP, universal free meal programs at tens of thousands of schools fall into jeopardy.

— Juliana Kim, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of jeopardy

Verb

This is what extinction threatens, piece by piece, thread by thread, species by species.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Recent gains by Houthi militants threaten shipping in the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait and could further spike energy prices.

— Antoni Slodkowski Reuters, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of threaten

Noun

But when the canal turns out to be the site of illicit Russian mafia activities, Irwin becomes a witness and must evade the mob and its threats to his family while relying on his partner and former cop brother to help get him out of trouble.

— Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
The Massachusetts case is the latest legal trouble involving the influencer.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of trouble

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periapts

peril

periled

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Style

“Peril.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peril. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of peril

noun

verb

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