perilous
gb/pˈɛɹələs/ us/pˈɛɹələs/
C1
English
~ 26300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
Very dangerous or full of risk
Very dangerous and likely to cause harm or bad results.
Usage pattern:
[something] is perilous
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "perilous" in casual speech where "dangerous" or "risky" would sound more natural. "Perilous" is more formal or dramatic. Also, some confuse the adjective "perilous" with the noun "peril" and say *"it is a perilous"* when they mean *"it is a peril"*, or *"it is perilous"* when they need a noun.
Synonyms
dangerous (Most common and neutral; not as formal or dramatic as "perilous.")
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hazardous (Often used for physical or job-related risks; slightly technical compared to "perilous.")
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risky (Suggests a chance of bad results; less formal and less dramatic than "perilous.")
Antonyms
safe (Direct opposite; describes conditions without danger.)
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secure (Emphasizes protection from harm or danger, the opposite of a perilous state.)
Collocations
perilous journey
|perilous situation
|perilous path
|perilous climb
|perilous times
|perilous state
Themes
safety
|danger
|travel
|risk
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They began a perilous journey across the mountains in the middle of winter.
- Rescuers refused to continue the search at night because the conditions had become too perilous.
- Investing so much money in one small company is a perilous strategy.
- The hikers found themselves in a perilous situation when the storm cut off their route.
- The country is in a perilous state, with rising tensions on all its borders.
Learner examples
- It is perilous to drive fast on icy roads.
- The soldiers walked through a perilous area near the border.
- Climbing that high rock without a rope is perilous.
- The company is in a perilous position because it has no money left.
- We decided not to cross the river because the water looked perilous.
Grammar
Dictionary form
perilous
IPA
GB/pˈɛɹələs/
US/pˈɛɹələs/
Syllables & stress
per - il - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (per)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: perilous
Word family
Core family
peril
noun B2
perilously
adverb
Advanced or less common
imperil
verb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.