adj
Uncommon
perilous
PEHR-ih-luhs
Perilous (adj) means Full of danger; risky. Example: “The road down the cliff was narrow and perilous.”
adj
1
Full of danger; risky.
"The road down the cliff was narrow and perilous."
"Negotiating with the kidnappers was a perilous task."
How to use perilous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDangerous — used for situations, journeys, or actions that carry real risk.
Common pairings
a perilous journey
perilous conditions
perilous times
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more perilous
- Superlative
- most perilous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The road down the cliff was narrow and _____.
Etymology
From Old French perilleus, built from peril + -ous, echoing Latin periculosus.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for perilous
See all rhymes for perilous →Frequently asked questions
What does “perilous” mean?
The word “perilous” means full of danger; risky. In plain terms, dangerous — used for situations, journeys, or actions that carry real risk.
How do you pronounce “perilous”?
“Perilous” is pronounced PEHR-ih-luhs (/ˈpɛɹ.ɪ.ləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “perilous” in a sentence?
Here is “perilous” used in a sentence: “The road down the cliff was narrow and perilous.”
What part of speech is “perilous”?
“Perilous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “perilous” come from?
The word “perilous” comes from Latin. From Old French perilleus, built from peril + -ous, echoing Latin periculosus.
Is “perilous” a common word?
“Perilous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
