dangerous

adjective

dan·​ger·​ous ˈdān-jə-rəs How to pronounce dangerous (audio)
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hart is suing her former employer, Extended Stay America, alleging that the company didn’t provide training or the most basic safety measures to handle dangerous and sometimes life-threatening work conditions. Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025 The agency issued a red warning, its highest-level alert indicating dangerous weather, for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland, before downgrading it Friday afternoon. Claire Moses, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 Key to that endeavor are the mostly undocumented day laborers who often do the physically taxing and dangerous work of clearing the rubble after a natural disaster recedes. Samantha Delouya, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025 New companies with dangerous ideas about affordable, efficient systems are generally shut out. David Hambling, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for dangerous 

Word History

Etymology

see danger entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dangerous was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dangerous

Cite this Entry

“Dangerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dangerous. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

dangerous

adjective
dan·​ger·​ous ˈdānj-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce dangerous (audio)
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.

More from Merriam-Webster on dangerous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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