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dangerous

dangerous

1.5
Likely to cause harm or injury
  • adjective
  • /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/
translation icon : peligroso
  • That's a thumb drive, and it contains the names of the members of one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the United States.
  • too dangerous
  • more dangerous
  • most dangerous

And they think that that's less dangerous then Trump.

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Examples

  • This is a very, very dangerous moment in the war.

  • Climbing that mountain without proper gear can be very dangerous.

  • Now where it gets really dangerous is with kids.

  • For Britain, it was dangerous to go to India.

  • Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?

  • Or you will be treated as a dangerous political enemy.

  • So what is the most dangerous moment in dating?

  • Year in, year out, COVID has made a dangerous job even worse.

  • As his father had said, the spreading was dangerous because it robbed people of food.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a reporter.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

bad
vsdangerous
1.0

Likely to cause harm or injury

is more specific about involving danger or a threatening situation
serious
vsdangerous
2.7

Likely to cause great harm or danger

is the simple descriptor for likely harm without stressing fear
deadly
vsdangerous
543 2.8

Able to cause death or serious harm

is a weaker term that includes nonfatal harm or risk
risky
vsdangerous
269 3.6

Likely to cause loss, harm, or danger

is more direct about an actual threat or likely injury
harmful
vsdangerous
161 2.6

Causing damage to people, animals or things

focuses more on immediate threat or injury rather than general damage
hazardous
vsdangerous
98 5.2

Likely to cause harm or danger

is broader and covers any situation involving danger or threat
unsafe
vsdangerous
93 1.1

Likely to cause harm to people or damage to things

is the general word for involving harm, injury, or risk
life-threatening
vsdangerous
66 4.3

Dangerous enough to cause death

covers all harmful or risky situations, not only those risking death
threatening
vsdangerous
65 3.6

Showing that something bad or dangerous may happen

expresses a real likelihood of harm rather than just suggesting it
perilous
vsdangerous
43 7.5

Full of danger that could cause harm

is less vivid and can apply to any level of threat
treacherous
vsdangerous
38 7.1

Unstable ground, water, or weather that can suddenly become dangerous

is more general and does not require instability or betrayal
dicey
vsdangerous
  • Informal
30 8.5

Likely to be risky or dangerous because the outcome is uncertain

is the neutral term for likely to cause harm or injury
injurious
vsdangerous
8 7.0

Can harm people, animals, or plants

is broader, covering danger, threat, or risk beyond physical injury

Antonyms

1.0

Not likely to be harmed or in danger

231 1.0

Not able to hurt people or things

Compounds

A time when people could be hurt or killed

A substance that can cause harm to people, animals, or the environment

An action or plan that has a high risk of causing serious harm

How Dangerous

deadly
543 2.8
hazardous
98 5.2
dangerous
1.5
unsafe
93 1.1
risky
269 3.6

Surface Forms

dangerous positive
dangerouser comparative
dangerousest superlative

Morphology

dangerous = danger (transparent) = danger + ous

The adjective is a straightforward, productive formation from the noun 'danger' with the suffix '-ous' meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by'.

Etymology

Dangerous comes from the noun danger, which long ago meant 'power' or the 'ability to harm'. So something dangerous is something that has the 'power' to hurt you.