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perilous
/ˈpɛrɪləs/
full of danger
The explorers faced perilous conditions in the jungle.
The explorers encountered many dangerous situations in the jungle.
formal
Full of danger or risk.
The journey through the mountains was perilous due to sudden storms.
The mountain journey was dangerous because of unexpected storms.
She took a perilous step onto the crumbling bridge.
She made a risky move by stepping onto the unstable bridge.
Often used to describe situations or actions that involve serious risk.
Collocations
perilous journeya dangerous tripperilous situationa risky or hazardous stateperilous patha route filled with dangers
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Do not pair 'perilous' with 'very' (e.g., 'very perilous'). Instead, use 'extremely perilous' or choose a stronger synonym like 'hazardous'.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'perilous' for situations involving serious, often life-threatening danger, not minor risks.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'perilous', from Old French 'perilleus', derived from Latin 'periculosus', from 'periculum' (danger), related to 'periri' (to try, risk).
Usage Notes
Used in formal contexts to emphasize significant danger. Avoid using in casual speech where 'dangerous' or 'risky' would suffice.
Word Breakdown
peril
danger
root-ous
full of
suffixEnglish Dictionary