Synonyms

peril

American

[per-uhl] / ˈpɛr əl /

noun

exposure to injury, loss, or destruction; grave risk; jeopardy; danger.

They faced the peril of falling rocks.
something that causes or may cause injury, loss, or destruction.

verb (used with object)

periled, periling, perilled, perilling

to expose to danger; imperil; risk.

peril British

/ ˈpɛrɪl /

noun

exposure to risk or harm; danger or jeopardy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See danger.

Other Word Forms

multiperil adjective
perilless adjective

Etymology

Origin of peril

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin perīculum “danger, test, trial,” from perī-, verb base meaning “try” (also found in the compound experīrī “to try, test”; experience ) + -culum -cle ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For some, that highlighted the peril of “looking through” a surge in energy prices by leaving borrowing costs unchanged and expecting the shock to be self-correcting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

I hope his story can be remembered not because of its tragedy, but because it demanded a future where people deserving refuge are not thrown into peril.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

Ukraine knows the peril and the challenge better than anyone else.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

In 1999, student protests were a moment of peril, but they were put down.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

I was now in peril, and if I had been seen to enter the Embassy, in instant peril.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023