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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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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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

Italy’s Po River and the Rhine in Switzerland are also in peril. — Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 That rally-'round-the-flag sentiment at a time of peril would shatter as time passed. — Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 For the tournament, the matchup is both perfection and peril. — James Hansen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The train is, of course, a classic example of the perennial perils of sunk costs; abandoning the line seems absurd (even to us) given how much money would be written off. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peril

Recent Examples of Synonyms for peril

Noun

This is a historically fragmented industry, with different vendors for different kinds of services, such as firewall, threat detection, and identity.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Meteorologists said the majority of model guidance does not indicate a credible hurricane threat to California during the second week of September.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of threat

Noun

Handles up improves safety and hygiene during unloading, avoiding contact with eating surfaces and reducing injury risk.

— Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
Another is the contagion risk posed by having an unvaccinated child in a waiting room alongside infants and kids with immunodeficiencies.

— Eric Boodman, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of risk

Verb

Mandating malnutrition reporting could increase the need for dietitians in already understaffed hospitals, or create overwhelming caseloads that could endanger patients and heighten the risk of RD burnout.

— Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
The possibility that the shooter endangered thousands of people at the rally is also an important distinction under Utah law.

— Bill Chappell, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of endanger

Noun

Nate Thomas now is in serious jeopardy of not making the team along with fourth-round rookie Drew Shelton, although Shelton will have the benefit of the team rarely parting ways with rookies drafted in the top four rounds.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
If the purchase of the Pierre were to go through, Lutnick could get as much as $100 million for the penthouse, even as his neighbors were forced to sell and hundreds of hotel staffers’ jobs were put in jeopardy.

— Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of jeopardy

Verb

Continue reading … PARTY FOUL — Jeffries threatens consequences after Dem mutiny helps move anti-socialism bill.

— , FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
As part of the new guidance message, DHS threatened universities with legal consequences — including the revocation of their permission to enroll international students.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of threaten

Noun

The trouble was a bacterial abscess on the child’s neck, swollen, red, warm to the touch, about the size of a ping-pong ball, large enough to force the head into a tilt.

— Eric Boodman, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
At least five people died and dozens more were feared dead after a boat carrying West African migrants ran into trouble in the Atlantic Ocean.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of trouble

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peril

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“Peril.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peril. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of peril

noun

verb

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