DANGEROUS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dangerous

adjective

ˈdān-jə-rəs

Definition of dangerous next

as in hazardous

involving potential loss or injury the soldiers were specially selected to go on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harmful

causing or capable of causing harm the common knowledge that smoking is dangerous to one's health hasn't stopped some people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Examples 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 More than two dozen recalls were initiated during December for reasons including contamination with dangerous pathogens like listeria and salmonella and mislabeling mistakes that could expose vulnerable people to potentially deadly allergic reactions. —

George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024 The deaths of 25 migrants last month in boats off the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar brought to light yet another route that some in Africa are taking in dangerous bids for Europe. —

Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024 Opponents say that’s dangerous and subverts accountability. —

Catrina Barker | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Dec. 2024 Risk tolerance, as evidenced by the balloon test, declined over the six months in space, with the astronauts showing less inclination to pump the balloon to bursting—a result, perhaps, of an overall tendency toward caution bred of living in an inherently dangerous environment. —

Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dangerous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous

Adjective

Winds and hazardous Roads The northern Rockies and High Plains, including Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and Iowa, have already seen powerful winds on Thursday, posing a serious risk to drivers.

Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
According to a hazardous weather outlook from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, light snow, or a snow and rain mix, is likely to hit Greater Cincinnati on Friday.

Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 19 Dec. 2024