perilously

[per-uh-luhs-lee] / ˈpɛr ə ləs li /

ADVERB

dangerously

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alarmingly critically desperately precariously recklessly seriously severely

STRONG

hazardously

WEAK

carelessly daringly gravely harmfully riskily unsafely unsecurely

Antonyms

STRONGEST

lightly trivially

WEAK

carefully on guard safely securely

ADVERB

desperately

Synonyms

STRONGEST

badly dangerously fiercely greatly seriously

WEAK

carelessly dramatically gravely harmfully hysterically like crazy like mad

Antonyms

STRONGEST

mildly

WEAK

calmly easily trivially

ADVERB

seriously

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acutely badly grievously intensely severely sorely very

STRONG

gravely

WEAK

decidedly deplorably distressingly harmfully menacingly precariously quite regrettably threateningly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

little

WEAK

casually funnily lightly minor trivially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

First, their majorities in the House and Senate are perilously slender.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

A few houses hovered perilously close—5 feet or so—from the precipice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Perched perilously just three points above the Premier League relegation zone, Forest's main aim is to avoid dropping into the Championship.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

But he said he was concerned about about those who are "perilously close to becoming homeless" and he urged people to get in touch if they were financially struggling.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

More than the question of compensation, then, the relocation problem was perilously close to insoluble.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

perilously

Example Sentences

Related Words