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a dangerous situation
an unsafe situation
a hazardous situation
a risky situation
a scary situation
a serious situation
dangerous precedent
troublesome precedent
perilous precedent
awful precedent
unhealthy precedent
horrible precedent
dangerous levels
unhealthy levels
risky levels
toxic levels
deadly levels
hazardous levels
a dangerous enemy
a powerful enemy
a deadly enemy
a potent enemy
a wicked enemy
a threatening enemy

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dangerous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of dangerous are hazardous, perilous, precarious, and risky. While all these words 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

When could hazardous be used to replace dangerous?

The meanings of hazardous and dangerous largely overlap; however, hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When can perilous be used instead of dangerous?

The synonyms perilous and dangerous are sometimes interchangeable, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

When might precarious be a better fit than dangerous?

In some situations, the words precarious and dangerous are roughly equivalent. However, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

When is it sensible to use risky instead of dangerous?

The words risky and dangerous can be used in similar contexts, but risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dangerous He was found guilty of corruption, and he should have been considered a dangerous criminal. Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025 At times, the Algerian even operated as a wide forward as O’Neil grappled with a forward injury crisis and identified Ait-Nouri as his most dangerous attacking threat. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 6 June 2025 Furthermore, is a reliance on new safety and driver assistance features potentially dangerous? Ford recall extends to over one million vehicles due to rearview camera issue Why are over a million Ford models included in NHTSA's recent recall notices? Charles Singh, USA Today, 5 June 2025 Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dangerous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous
Adjective
  • Many analysts believe that robots like the K2 are likely to complement human workers by taking over monotonous or hazardous duties, which allows people to focus on more complex, creative, or supervisory tasks.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
  • Researchers worldwide are already focusing on multimodal robots that can adjust to their environments and access sites too hazardous or difficult for humans to reach.
    Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Research has found that building roads can fragment habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and increase erosion and sediment pollution in drinking water, among other potentially harmful outcomes.
    Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • This kind of leadership without empathy is not only unsustainable but actively harmful to morale and performance.
    Jody Michael, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and military officials must know that attacking U.S. targets would be very risky and would lead to a significant response that would likely be even more damaging than Israel’s latest attacks – including putting a potential deal over its nuclear program at risk.
    Javed Ali, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
  • In a way, staying close to the game is the safest route, even if the story itself is more risky.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • How detrimental and what that means for you is often difficult to know.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 16 June 2025
  • Getting rid of those numbers would be detrimental to the Celtics' success.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • The deepest fear: Just four years after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan ended America's longest war, the United States is now enmeshed in another war in a volatile region, with perilous and uncertain consequences.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 23 June 2025
  • The Darién Gap, long a perilous route for millions of migrants traveling north toward the United States, has also become a pathway for the northward spread of the New World screwworm—a parasitic fly now challenging decades of containment efforts.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • The primary risks for the Midwest will be damaging winds, hail, flash flooding and the possibility of tornadoes.
    Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 23 June 2025
  • The National Weather Service issued a moderate risk alert for severe thunderstorms across parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, warning that conditions could lead to tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail throughout Friday evening and overnight.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Make sure your plants are receiving enough water, and treat serious pest problems with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 June 2025
  • Even 6 inches of moving water can pose a serious risk of knocking you off your feet.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Risks and precautions Research has shown that NSAIDs have multiple adverse effects and should be used with caution, both doctors pointed out.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
  • Hall’s Visual Language Access and Acquisition Lab is a leader in researching those adverse effects and possible solutions.
    Alan Schwarz, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dangerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangerous. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dangerous

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