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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 The protectors of Santa Monica Bay are caving to Trump’s dangerous demands. Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025 Their exit, along Forest Service roads, was blocked by landslides and dangerous debris piles. Peter Slevin, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025 Millions there are facing a dangerous severe weather outbreak capable of multiple strong tornadoes, with level 4 of 5 risks of severe thunderstorms in place both days, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025 Legal experts warn that the government’s actions against Khalil set a dangerous precedent. Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dangerous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangerous
Adjective
  • Periods of intense snowfall are possible in parts of central and southern WY, leading to possibly hazardous travel at times.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The salad bar did not have time labels for potentially hazardous foods kept out of temperature control.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Scientists have found bits of plastic in the ocean that are coated in communities of microorganisms, including harmful bacteria.5 Jayakrishnan said the microplastics in the body may play a similar role, offering a medium for cancer-causing bacteria to grow and disrupt the gut microbiome.
    Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Better yet, they can still be used on public lands to sustain local communities in place of harmful industrial extraction.
    TIME, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Traditionally, however, penny stocks are pretty risky.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Forgoing a balanced diet or drastically cutting calories is risky.
    Helen Carefoot, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In addition to losing the benefits for our kids, this loss of funds is a huge blow to community farmers and ranchers and is detrimental to school meal programs struggling to manage rising food and labor costs.
    Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Musk’s Twitter purchase was a bad deal financially and has been detrimental to X’s bottom line, but his ownership of the platform helped boost his cultural and political relevance by keeping him in the center of the news cycle.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Our ancestors crossed a vast ocean, strode into the unknown wilderness, and carved their fortunes from the rock and soil of a perilous and very dangerous frontier.
    CBS News, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Our ancestors crossed a vast ocean, strode into the unknown wilderness, and carve their fortunes from the rock and soil of a perilous and very dangerous frontier.
    TIME Staff, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The cyclone was already bringing heavy rainfall to coastal areas on Saturday, along with damaging winds and storm surges.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Choosing the wrong treatment can be damaging, or even fatal.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Equip yourself with these guidelines from the NWS to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards: Beware of rapid water flow: During heavy rain, avoid playing near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.
    Bay Area Weather Report, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The report urges automakers and mobility stakeholders to go beyond regulations to address the threats causing serious implications for safety, operational availability and data privacy.
    Ed Garsten, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Environmental groups have long opposed the new reservoir and objected to a shorter judicial review, saying the project will release unacceptable amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the air in addition to other adverse impacts.
    Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Throughout their operations and supply chains, companies utilize a vast array of chemicals, some with a potential for adverse environmental and human health impacts.
    Arlene Blum, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dangerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangerous. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dangerous

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