perilous

[ per-uh-luhs ]

/ ˈpɛr ə ləs /

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adjective

involving or full of grave risk or peril; hazardous; dangerous: a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat.

Nearby words

peril point, perilabyrinthitis, perilaryngitis, perilla, perilla oil, perilous, perilously, perilune, perilymph, perilymphangitis, perilymphatic

Origin of perilous

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French perillous < Latin perīculōsus. See peril, -ous

SYNONYMS FOR perilous

risky.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perilous ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR perilous

safe.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR perilous ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

per·il·ous·ly, adverbper·il·ous·ness, nounnon·per·il·ous, adjectivenon·per·il·ous·ly, adverb

un·per·il·ous, adjectiveun·per·il·ous·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perilous

Satirists occupy a perilous position—to skewer dogma and cant, and to antagonize the establishment while needing its protection.
Harry Shearer on The Dangerous Business of Satire|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is a tricky and perilous path, but there are no realistic alternatives.
There’s Only One Way to Beat ISIS: Work With Assad and Iran|Leslie H. Gelb|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if Mare Nostrum ends, it could be a tragic day for migrants making the perilous crossing.
Are European Rescuers Enticing Migrants to Their Deaths?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unfortunately, this can result in sending a well-intentioned but perilous message.
'Genie, You're Free': Suicide Is Not Liberation|Russell Saunders|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And now Persecuted holds up a mirror to the perilous situation facing increasingly disenfranchised Christians in modern America.
‘Persecuted’ Is the Christian Right’s Paranoid Wet Dream|Candida Moss|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At this perilous moment Don Rafael perceived that his horse was sensibly slackening his pace.
The Tiger Hunter|Mayne Reid
It was a perilous adventure, with the ever present danger of falling into the sea.
The Romance of Aircraft|Lawrence Yard Smith
His power is perilous in the partiality of will, and his heart full of hollowness in the protestation of love.
Character Writings of the 17th Century|Various
A suspicion flashed into her mind, knowing the perilous ways that sometimes had to be run.
The Salamander|Owen Johnson
The men went back to their perilous work, (p. 346) harder by so much to all of them because two were gone.
Children of the Tenements|Jacob A. Riis

British Dictionary definitions for perilous

perilous

/ (ˈpɛrɪləs) /

adjective

very hazardous or dangerousa perilous journey

Derived Formsperilously, adverbperilousness, noun

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

Word Origin and History for perilous

perilous

adj.

c.1300, from Old French perillos "perilous, dangerous" (Modern French périlleux) "dangerous, hazardous," from Latin periculosus "dangerous, hazardous," from periculum "a danger, attempt, risk" (see peril). Related: Perilously; perilousness.

perilous

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of perilous

Examples from the Web for perilous

British Dictionary definitions for perilous

perilous

adjective

Word Origin and History for perilous

perilous