perilous
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of perilous
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French perillous, from Latin perīculōsus; see peril, -ous
Explanation
Something that is dangerous or very risky can be described with the adjective perilous. If you are driving in a blizzard, you may kick yourself for making such a perilous journey. The adjective perilous comes from the Latin word periculum, meaning dangerous. Words from the same root include peril, a noun meaning a dangerous situation, and imperil, a verb meaning to put in danger. The last thing you want to do as a parent is to imperil your children. Unfortunately, childhood is filled with peril — from climbing on the monkey bars to eating paste, dirt, or bugs. If you think you can prevent all perilous situations, you haven't been a parent very long!
Vocabulary lists containing perilous
The Star-Spangled Banner
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13
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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.
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday visited Italy's Lampedusa island, a major port of call for migrants risking the perilous crossing from Africa, in a stark message to US and EU leaders.
From Barron's • Jul. 4, 2026
It is easy to forget how perilous the American position was in late 1776.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Scheffler's score was deceptively good on a day when gusting winds reached 40mph and ensured that the greens became firmer and even more perilous.
From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026
A word of warning: trading individual stocks can be perilous.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
Both had volunteered for the perilous job of scouting for the Allies, observing and reporting on the movement of Japanese forces.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
