PERIL Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

peril 1 of 2

noun

ˈper-əl

Definition of peril

as in threat

something that may cause injury or harm life is full of unexpected perils

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in risk

the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil they were unhappy about sending their son into peril overseas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

peril

2 of 2

verb

ˈper-əl

as in to endanger

to place in danger a tribute to the men and women who, as firefighters, peril their lives daily

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of peril

Noun

Outside of Waymos, there also have been concerns about other autonomous vehicles taking their passengers into peril. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Even as Anthropic ostensibly pleads for guardrails because of AI’s peril, national security anxieties will override any caution – becauseof that same potential power. — Michael Serazio, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 Over time, there has been a wealth of investigative journalism making plain that the security establishment ignored clear warnings of peril from mid-level intelligence officers and other sources. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026 One of the best ways to stay private and protect yourself from the internet's many perils is a VPN. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peril

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peril

Noun

In contrast to other Gulf monarchies, especially Saudi Arabia, Qatar sees no threat in the Muslim Brotherhood, the political movement that spawned Hamas.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
In other words, the biggest threats on the horizon might not be the Vatican or their local dioceses as much as time and money.

— Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of threat

Noun

Al Hassan describes a doctor’s appointment where the doctor can review the patient’s history and risk information before deciding on treatment.

— Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
The city-state had tightened its policy in back to back in April and July, citing inflation risks due to higher energy prices.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of risk

Verb

After he was released from the hospital, 22-year-old Nicholas James Stedeford-Aaron was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and failure to move over for emergency vehicles with injury.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026
One key objection was the mature tone of the narrative, in which the child protagonist is directly confronted and endangered by the evils derived from fascist ideologies.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of endanger

Noun

Yet decisions that could contribute to anything from an individual suicide to large-scale cyberattacks and geopolitical destabilization are made without personal legal jeopardy.

— Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The Chase Around the World does just that, taking a tried-and-tested, colossally successful format and an additional bit of jeopardy, with firm potential for international sales.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of jeopardy

Verb

Last year, a Senatobia officer threatened a Black woman with a Taser, pulling her from her car and onto the ground and arresting her during a confrontation over an accessible parking space in the same Walmart lot where Kohen was shot.

— SOPHIE BATES, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
The bank still calls Nvidia the sector’s best risk-reward opportunity but warns that financing pressures, power shortages, and concentrated customers could threaten the buildout.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of threaten

Noun

According to a new Guardian poll, 95 percent of Americans think that the United States is in the midst of an affordability crisis with many reporting trouble affording necessities like gas and groceries.

— Lorie Konish, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Bell is the latest celebrity to speak out about troubles obtaining SAG-AFTRA health insurance.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of trouble

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peril

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Style

“Peril.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peril. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of peril

noun

verb

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