PERILOUS Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

perilous

adjective

ˈper-ə-ləs

Definition of perilous

as in dangerous

involving potential loss or injury a perilous journey through hostile territory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Twain was inspired to publish the ambitious Library of American Literature with 1,700 selections by 500 authors in eleven volumes, but failed to grasp the perilous economics of selling such a gargantuan series by subscription. — Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026 But the transition out of Netflix and onto bigger screens has proven a perilous one for other actors born and bred on the streamer. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 Deadpoint takes place on Thailand’s Mount Kwan, where two climbers become trapped 11,000 feet above ground as their perilous hike takes a turn for the worse. — Niya Doyle, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 Her interpretation of modern woodae galbi balances grilled bite-size slices from beef short ribs along a dramatic dinosaur-size bone for a potentially perilous presentation. — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perilous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for perilous

Adjective

Heaping credit onto Espada is dangerous, but so is blaming him for every game that goes awry.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
That’s a dangerous prospect for any country, but especially for Singapore, crammed into a space smaller than New York City.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of dangerous

Adjective

Dillman and his coconspirator used the funds to pay themselves and to make risky and speculative investments in other cryptocurrency ventures, authorities said, citing other evidence presented at the trial.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
In turn, Axira proposes a risky deal — steal something from the Tournament of Hearts, a dating competition where highborn citizenship is on the line.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of risky

Browse Nearby Words

periling

perilous

perils

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Perilous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perilous. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of perilous

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

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

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

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

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

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes