peril 1 of 2

noun

ˈper-əl How to pronounce peril (audio)
Definition of perilnext
1
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm life is full of unexpected perils

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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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peril

2 of 2

verb

ˈper-əl How to pronounce peril (audio)
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
The perils of brawling with a bin Professor Tonge puts the likelihood of an upset at around 30%. — Mark Rice-Oxley, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the Switch 2 is Nintendo’s holding pattern amidst an industry in peril. — Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 And there was something fun about playing with the eve of a day that is usually fraught with peril. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 Even considering the persistence and peril of anthrax, Stewart reckons that the British government did properly decontaminate the island. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peril
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peril
  1. threat
  2. risk
  3. endanger
  4. danger
  5. jeopardy
  6. threaten
  7. trouble
Noun
  • All three Cabinet members were aware that Trump had secretly switched from the old Air Force One jet to the military aircraft given the threat, sources said.
    — Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Automated systems now make decisions and respond to threats at increasingly high speeds.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of threat
Noun
  • The high risk of – and challenges of addressing – oil spills and other safety incidents in the hostile Arctic climate are another dissuading factor, as are environmental costs of operating there.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Overnight a shift in wind direction raised the risk that the flames could reach Gey by morning, prompting officials to order the initial evacuation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of risk
Verb
  • They have both been charged with four counts of abandoning or endangering a child.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Kendra Duggar, 27, and Joseph Duggar, 31, were both charged on March 20 with four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment after an investigation, according to a release from local police.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of endanger
Noun
  • Swimming in the Seine was officially banned in 1923 amid pollution and the dangers of river traffic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Fire danger continues in the Pacific Northwest Saturday as flame-fueling winds reached their strongest point in days on Friday, challenging fire crews battling to keep destructive blazes from spreading in Spokane, Washington, and across the region.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of danger
Noun
  • But given how poorly that series capper went over, her chances of winning a third Emmy are in some jeopardy.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The end of the Acacia contract on July 31 threw that access further into jeopardy.
    — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of jeopardy
Verb
  • Those supporters have done their club proud, a point embodied by the gradual improvements made to a ground Exeter were once threatened with eviction from under previous owners.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • An investigation found that the man allegedly assaulted his 63-year-old father and threatened to kill people at the home following an argument.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of threaten
Noun
  • The possibility of marital trouble is one of several details revealed in a search warrant related to the domestic violence murders carried out in two cities on Wednesday morning.
    — Conor Wight, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Almost anyone can run for parliament in the UK – only a £500 ($675) deposit and 10 supporters of the bid are needed – allowing for people to make their joke, or point, without too much trouble.
    — Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of trouble

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Cite this Entry

“Peril.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peril. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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