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Synonym Chooser

How is the word perilous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of perilous are dangerous, hazardous, precarious, and risky. While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

When might dangerous be a better fit than perilous?

The words dangerous and perilous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

When is it sensible to use hazardous instead of perilous?

The synonyms hazardous and perilous are sometimes interchangeable, but hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When can precarious be used instead of perilous?

While in some cases nearly identical to perilous, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

When would risky be a good substitute for perilous?

In some situations, the words risky and perilous are roughly equivalent. However, risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

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 perilous In the Zootopia sequel directed by Jared Bush and Bryon Howard, brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), team up again to crack the most perilous and intricate case of their careers. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025 One clip showed a Black woman alone in front of an establishment, crying about the perilous consequences of the benefits pause. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025 The calf appeared to be about a year old, meaning Frida’s baby has survived the most perilous part of its life. Ryan Green, Scientific American, 6 Nov. 2025 China's rise puts the United States in a perilous position because our biotech sector isn't just another industry. Sen. Todd Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perilous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perilous
Adjective
  • Chicago is facing a dangerous lake-effect snow event early Monday morning.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Two decades ago, when the NFL's base offense consisted of two backs with a blocking tight end and only two wide receivers, an elite cornerback could often take away half of the dangerous receiving options.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The result, Kahn says, is that parts of Earth’s orbital environment are rife with hazardous objects that can collide with vital space infrastructure.
    Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 7 Nov. 2025
  • All seven patients were cleared almost immediately and no hazardous materials turned up on base, Fox News is told.
    Jennifer Griffin , Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The right-hander generated a ground ball to get the force out at home in an extremely close call, and the very next pitch was a risky fly out tracked down by Andy Pages (who entered the game after the bases were loaded).
    Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The seedless doctrine For years, Tangem campaigned against seed phrases as risky and error-prone, arguing that paper or metal backups become a single, theft-prone secret that ordinary people routinely mishandle.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • If Haaland isn’t my choice here, there should be serious consideration at The Athletic about sacking me.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • As for the safety of the drug, about 10% of the adults taking enlicitide experienced serious adverse events during the study and a similar share, about 12%, of those taking a placebo experienced adverse events in the study.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Perilous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perilous. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on perilous

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