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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 peril

Noun

The pleasure and peril of games of chance lie in never really knowing what comes next. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 Teenage e-bikers on an Oakland County airport runway last week forced a pilot to abort his landing, taking the potential perils of e-bike misuse to a whole new level. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2026 There is a palpable energy that moves through her prose, a power current of peril and danger not only in the story itself but in the use of language. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 Italy’s Po River and the Rhine in Switzerland are also in peril. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peril

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peril

Noun

This isn’t really about an existential threat coming for the status quo of professional golf anymore.

— Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Still, the threats have increased for the islands of Niihau and Kauai because the storm's forecast track has shifted steadily eastward, the National Hurricane Center said.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of threat

Noun

The risks were low, and yet Karyann is fast becoming famous for what came next.

— Lenore Skenazy, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
The expectation is that, with the SAFER barrier, cars will slide along it in an accident, reducing the risk of the car ending up bouncing back onto the racing line.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of risk

Verb

The Sumatran tiger, classified as critically endangered by the United Nations and conservation groups, is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, which is slightly larger than Sweden.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Papadopoulos relies on this faltering system that is now endangered.

— Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of endanger

Noun

The mudslide hit part of a village in Suichuan County in Jiangxi province in the early hours, prompting rescuers to rush to the scene and relocate residents to safer ground to prevent further danger, authorities said in a statement.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Anderson portrays a young woman caught between danger and redemption under Joe’s guidance.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of danger

Verb

The euro zone, a net importer of energy, has seen inflation above the ECB's 2% target since the war in the Middle East threatened commodity transit through the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil prices to spike and remain volatile.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
Anthem aims to give US forces a way to threaten those targets during extended operations.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of threaten

Noun

Looming over it all is billionaire Matthew Prince, a Park City resident who had expressed frustrations with how Vail Resorts has operated its Park City property, blaming Vail CEO Rob Katz for the company’s financial troubles.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
The business owners said much of the trouble involves the same small group of young people who are repeatedly arrested and released.

— Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of trouble

Browse Nearby Words

periapts

peril

periled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Peril.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peril. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of peril

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

hobnob

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes