perilous
PEHR-uh-luss
/ˈpɛrələs/
Full of danger or grave risk; fraught with peril.
Conveys imminent, severe threat to life or limb, beyond ordinary risk.
The story behind the word. The Latin word 'periculum' originally had a milder legal meaning: an experiment, trial, or test. However, because experiments in ancient warfare or navigation often went violently wrong, the word evolved into meaning extreme danger. To be 'perilous' literally means to be living in the middle of a high-stakes test where failure means death.
Word relationships
- hazardous: Hazardous often describes chemical, workplace, or physical environmental risks, while perilous carries dramatic, life-threatening weight.
- precarious: Precarious emphasizes unstable physical balance or uncertainty, whereas perilous directly emphasizes danger of grave injury or loss.
- secure: Secure means free from danger or risk of harm.
- safe: Safe indicates complete protection from potential injury.
Commonly confused with
- parlous: Parlous is an archaic or formal synonym meaning dangerous, but perilous is vastly more widespread in modern English.
Word family
- peril (noun): Serious and immediate danger.
- perilously (adverb): In a way that is full of danger or threat.
Collocations
- perilous journey
- perilous conditions
- perilous ascent
- perilous terrain
Example sentences
- "The team made a perilous night ascent up the icy mountain cliff face to reach the stranded climbers." Alpine rescue description
- "They embarked on a perilous journey across stormy seas in a small wooden lifeboat." Maritime history narrative
Memory hook
PERILOUS = PURE RISK for US when conditions are extreme. Full of lethal risk
When not to use
Avoid using for tiny inconveniences, like a slightly slippery sidewalk or a minor traffic delay.
Fun facts
- The famous English word 'experience' comes from the exact same Latin root 'periculum'—you gain experience by surviving perilous trials.
Explore more words
imminent, precipitous, intrepid, hazardous, precarious, foreboding
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