dangerous
adjective
dan·ger·ous ˈdān-jə-rəs 
ˈdān-jərs,
-zhrəs
1
: involving possible injury, pain, harm, or loss : characterized by danger
a dangerous job
2
: able or likely to inflict injury or harm
a dangerous man
dangerously adverb
dangerousness noun
Synonyms
- grave
- grievous
- hazardous
- jeopardizing
- menacing
- parlous
- perilous
- risky
- serious
- threatening
- unhealthy
- unsafe
- venturesome
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She got into a car accident while driving through a dangerous intersection. He often drives at dangerous speeds. The city can be a dangerous place to live. The storms may cause dangerous flooding. He is wanted for assault with a dangerous weapon. the most dangerous of drugs See More
Recent Examples on the Web Four child welfare and farm safety experts said carrying out ranch work like that described by the former residents can be dangerous for children. 
Tyler Kingkade, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 To get a second-degree murder conviction, prosecutor Ryan Gould must prove that Grossman acted with implied malice and knew the act of driving more than 70 mph in a residential area was dangerous to human life. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Either journalism is too dangerous to permit, or it’s not. Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, 7 Sep. 2022 These problems can lead to confusion or loss of consciousness that can be very dangerous, especially when hiking, where someone may fall from a greater height than in other settings. ABC News, 7 Sep. 2022 His running ability is eye-popping, but his arm could be equally dangerous. al, 4 Sep. 2022 Still, experts consulted by AP agreed more could be done to enforce red flag laws given the prevalence of guns and the millions of gun owners that national studies suggest could be dangerous to themselves and others. Bernard Condon, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 More than most, Alicia knows how dangerous the Internet can be. Elaine Aradillas, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2022 Schauffele is dangerous as ever, and his record at East Lake is astounding for someone who has never left Atlanta in possession of a trophy. Doug Ferguson, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Tyler Kingkade, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 To get a second-degree murder conviction, prosecutor Ryan Gould must prove that Grossman acted with implied malice and knew the act of driving more than 70 mph in a residential area was dangerous to human life. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Either journalism is too dangerous to permit, or it’s not. Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, 7 Sep. 2022 These problems can lead to confusion or loss of consciousness that can be very dangerous, especially when hiking, where someone may fall from a greater height than in other settings. ABC News, 7 Sep. 2022 His running ability is eye-popping, but his arm could be equally dangerous. al, 4 Sep. 2022 Still, experts consulted by AP agreed more could be done to enforce red flag laws given the prevalence of guns and the millions of gun owners that national studies suggest could be dangerous to themselves and others. Bernard Condon, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2022 More than most, Alicia knows how dangerous the Internet can be. Elaine Aradillas, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2022 Schauffele is dangerous as ever, and his record at East Lake is astounding for someone who has never left Atlanta in possession of a trophy. Doug Ferguson, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see danger entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing dangerous
Kids Definition
dangerous
adjective
dan·ger·ous ˈdān-jə-rəs
ˈdānj-rəs
1
: involving possible harm or death : full of danger
dangerous work
2
: able or likely to injure
A chain saw is a dangerous tool.
Legal Definition
dangerous
adjective
dan·ger·ous
1
: creating a risk of bodily injury
a dangerous condition of a public building
2
: able or likely to inflict especially serious bodily injury
a dangerous criminal with no regard for human life
a dangerous animal
also : deadly
3
: likely to engage in repeated criminal activity
a dangerous offender
Note: The activity that an offender is likely to engage in need not involve violence in order for the offender to be deemed dangerous.
dangerous
adjective
1
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
Relevance
- hazardous
- risky
- perilous
- serious
- unsafe
- precarious
- treacherous
- menacing
- threatening
- unhealthy
- destructive
- fatal
- random
- jeopardizing
- harmful
- grave
- detrimental
- grievous
- unpleasant
- deadly
- uncertain
- lethal
- bad
- parlous
- venturesome
- sickening
- adverse
- fell
- murderous
- insecure
- nasty
- dicey
- ugly
- injurious
- haphazard
- pernicious
- killer
- evil
- chance
- distressing
- malignant
- wicked
- deleterious
- noxious
- hurtful
- dire
- ultrahazardous
- inimical
- ill
- mortal
- fateful
- baneful
- deathly
- pestilent
- baleful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- harmless
- safe
- innocuous
- beneficial
- innocent
- good
- nonthreatening
- advantageous
- nonhazardous
- unthreatening
- ultrasafe
2
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
- harmful
- damaging
- detrimental
- adverse
- hazardous
- bad
- poisonous
- injurious
- pernicious
- evil
- infectious
- deadly
- noxious
- deleterious
- unsafe
- hurtful
- mischievous
- prejudicial
- baneful
- wicked
- destructive
- risky
- ill
- lethal
- hostile
- nocuous
- perilous
- baleful
- sinister
- threatening
- ominous
- insidious
- unfriendly
- venomous
- infective
- menacing
- inimical
- fatal
- unhealthy
- pestilential
- contagious
- unhealthful
- pestilent
- pestiferous
- ruinous
- unwholesome
- malignant
- unsound
- nasty
- jeopardizing
- parlous
- imperiling
- killer
- noisome
- imperilling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- safe
- harmless
- innocuous
- benign
- beneficial
- useful
- innocent
- advantageous
- good
- favorable
- inoffensive
- healthy
- anodyne
- healthful
- helpful
- propitious
- wholesome
- salubrious
- hurtless
- salutary
- curative
- remedial
- secure
- sound
- palliative
- nonpoisonous
- nontoxic
- noninfectious
- nondestructive
- noncorrosive
- benignant
- nonfatal
- nonlethal
- nonpolluting
- nonvenomous
Synonym Chooser
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
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
The synonyms perilous and dangerous are sometimes interchangeable, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.
perilous mountain roads
In some situations, the words precarious and dangerous are roughly equivalent. However, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.
earned a precarious living by gambling
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
- setting aside
- setting at
- setting back
- setting block
- setting board
- setting by
- setting circle
- setting coat
- setting dog
- setting down
- setting eyes on
- setting foot in
- setting forth
- setting gage
- setting hen
- setting in
- setting in motion
- setting off
- setting on
- setting one's heart on
- setting one's teeth on edge
- setting oneself against
- setting oneself up as
- setting oneself up as something
- setting out