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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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

Italy’s Po River and the Rhine in Switzerland are also in peril. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 That rally-'round-the-flag sentiment at a time of peril would shatter as time passed. — Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 For the tournament, the matchup is both perfection and peril. — James Hansen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The train is, of course, a classic example of the perennial perils of sunk costs; abandoning the line seems absurd (even to us) given how much money would be written off. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peril

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peril

Noun

However, the threat of taking California to the Supreme Court may be enough to bring the state’s AG Rob Bonta back to the bargaining table.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
For those who pursued advanced degrees in education, the threat of student loans was also a burden.

— Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of threat

Noun

Analysts warn that beyond crowded positioning and technical pullbacks, fundamental risks within the AI supply chain may also be emerging.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
States alleged that Meta’s internal research documented links between Instagram use and harms including depression, anxiety and body-image concerns among young people, while the company publicly minimized or concealed those risks.

— Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of risk

Verb

Johnson said moving some of those funds would not endanger any ongoing projects funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

— A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Still, the trade war has compounded GOP concerns that the party is barreling toward November with a political weight on its back that could endanger Republicans’ prospects of holding on to their narrow majorities in the House and Senate.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of endanger

Noun

Nate Thomas now is in serious jeopardy of not making the team along with fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton, although Shelton will have the benefit of the team rarely parting ways with rookies drafted in the top four rounds.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
If the purchase of the Pierre were to go through, Lutnick could get as much as $100 million for the penthouse, even as his neighbors were forced to sell and hundreds of hotel staffers’ jobs were put in jeopardy.

— Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of jeopardy

Verb

An 18-year-old North Carolina woman threatened to fabricate child molestation accusations if a man didn’t give her cash, according to police in Huntersville.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Trump has threatened to also double tariffs on automobiles and auto parts from Canada from 25% to 50%.

— Joey Garrison, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of threaten

Noun

The shadow default rate measures the percentage of cases where the terms of their loans are changed after the money has been borrowed, usually because the borrowing company has run into trouble.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Point Bennett hosts massive seal and sea lion colonies that can number well into the tens of thousands—well worth the trouble.

— Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of trouble

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peril

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“Peril.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peril. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of peril

noun

verb

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