Synonyms

perilously

American

[per-uh-luhs-lee] / ˈpɛr ə ləs li /

adverb

in a way or to a degree that is full of grave risk or peril; dangerously.

That lighthouse has always been perilously close to the ever-eroding cliffs.

Other Word Forms

nonperilously adverb
unperilously adverb

Etymology

Origin of perilously

perilous ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Wolf righted himself with a shake and leapt for the pouch, catching it in mid-air, but landing perilously close to the edge of the ravine.

From Literature

This time his voice falters on the question, which has come perilously close to asking whether there’s something I want to talk about, which of course, neither of us has ever asked before.

From Literature

Every wacky second, you’re well aware how perilously close it is to falling apart at the seams.

From Los Angeles Times

Beatlemania had dinged his appeal so perilously that editor Jonathan Redmond splices its arrival with images of car crashes and missile attacks.

From Los Angeles Times

Perched perilously just three points above the Premier League relegation zone, Forest's main aim is to avoid dropping into the Championship.

From Barron's

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