dangerous

adjective

dan·​ger·​ous ˈdān-jə-rəs 

ˈdān-jərs,

-zhrəs

1

: involving possible injury, pain, harm, or loss : characterized by danger

a dangerous job

2

: able or likely to inflict injury or harm

a dangerous man

dangerously adverb

dangerousness noun

Synonyms

• grave
• grievous
• hazardous
• jeopardizing
• menacing
• parlous
• perilous
• risky
• serious
• threatening
• unhealthy
• unsafe
• venturesome

Choose the Right Synonym for dangerous

dangerous, hazardous, precarious, perilous, risky mean bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury.

dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Examples of dangerous in a Sentence

She got into a car accident while driving through a dangerous intersection.

He often drives at dangerous speeds.

The city can be a dangerous place to live.

The storms may cause dangerous flooding.

He is wanted for assault with a dangerous weapon.

the most dangerous of drugs

Recent Examples on the Web

Africa, where the World Health Organization has deemed skin bleaching a dangerous and common phenomenon, is no exception. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025

Directed by John Carpenter, Escape from New York taps into the anxieties at the height of Cold War paranoia and urban decay fears, presenting a future where America’s own cities have become as dangerous as any foreign battlefield. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025

Crowds are more dangerous when the stakes are superficial, for instance, rushing into a Best Buy on Black Friday. —Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025

Unlike the red flag warnings issued on Monday and Thursday, which signal that dangerous weather conditions are already present, the watch serves as an early warning for imminent weather changes that could intensify the situation, according to the National Weather Service. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see danger entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dangerous

• armed and dangerous
• dangerous ground/territory
• dangerous waters
• on dangerous ground

Kids Definition

dangerous

adjective

dan·​ger·​ous ˈdānj-(ə-)rəs 

1

: exposing to or involving danger

a dangerous mission

2

: able or likely to cause injury

dangerous weapons

dangerously adverb

dangerousness noun

Legal Definition

dangerous

adjective

dan·​ger·​ous

1

: creating a risk of bodily injury

a dangerous condition of a public building

2

: able or likely to inflict especially serious bodily injury

a dangerous criminal with no regard for human life

a dangerous animal

also : deadly

3

: likely to engage in repeated criminal activity

a dangerous offender

Note: The activity that an offender is likely to engage in need not involve violence in order for the offender to be deemed dangerous.