perilous

[ per-uh-luhs ]

adjective

1. involving or full of grave risk or peril; hazardous; dangerous:

   a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat.

   Synonyms: risky

   Antonyms: safe

perilous

/ ˈpɛrɪləs /

adjective

1. very hazardous or dangerous

   a perilous journey

Derived Forms

• ˈperilousness, noun
• ˈperilously, adverb

Other Words From

• per·il·ous·ly adverb
• per·il·ous·ness noun
• non·per·il·ous adjective
• un·per·il·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perilous¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French perillous, from Latin perīculōsus; peril, -ous

Example Sentences

“Mumbai is a perilous city — even its geography is in a state of flux,” Kapadia. says.

From Los Angeles Times

As Amsterdam grapples with controversial plans to relocate its famous brothels to an out-of-town "erotic zone", Betty Szabo's hologram offers a poignant reminder of the vulnerability of sex workers in an area that, despite a range of security measures, remains perilous.

From BBC

It’s certainly true that we would have been in a perilous situation if Vice President Kamala Harris had won by a small margin and Trump had called the results “rigged”: A few days ago, that looked like the most direct line to political violence in the election’s aftermath.

From Los Angeles Times

Supreme Court may be entering a particularly perilous moment.

From Slate

But there was nothing particularly perilous about age 27, the authors found — in fact, the riskiest years came before musicians turned 25.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delicate
• dicey
• hazardous
• precarious
• risky
• rugged
• shaky
• threatening
• ticklish
• touchy
• treacherous
• uncertain
• unstable