adj Uncommon

perilous

PEHR-ih-luhs

Perilous (adj) means Full of danger; risky. Example: “The road down the cliff was narrow and perilous.”

adj

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 notes

In plain EnglishDangerous — used for situations, journeys, or actions that carry real risk.

Common pairings

a perilous journey perilous conditions perilous times

more perilous comparative, most perilous superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The road down the cliff was narrow and _____.

From Old French perilleus, built from peril + -ous, echoing Latin periculosus.

Origin: Latin

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

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.