# perilous

/ˈpɛɹəɫəs/ (US) · /pˈɛɹɪləs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/perilous
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

full of danger or risk. You use this to describe a situation or journey that could be very harmful.

For teachers: fraught with danger or risk of injury, loss, or destruction. Often used in literary or formal contexts to describe physical journeys or precarious situations.

## Examples

- The mountain climbers faced a perilous journey to the top.
- The small boat made a perilous crossing through the stormy waters of the channel.
- Navigating the narrow mountain pass during a blizzard proved to be a perilous undertaking that tested the limits of the team's endurance and equipment.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.