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"Perilous" vs. "hazardous": words for danger with a twist

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 12/07/2025, 06:31
English.me team member
Perilous and hazardous. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "perilous" and "hazardous" describe situations or things that involve danger or risk. They are often used to warn about potential harm, and both can modify activities, places, or objects.

What is different?

"Perilous" often emphasizes imminent or extreme danger and may have a more dramatic or literary tone, while "hazardous" is more commonly used for safety warnings and laws, focusing on the presence of potential health or safety risks, sometimes in a technical or legal sense.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for perilous) and hazardous

Examples of usage

Perilous
  • The hikers faced a perilous journey across the mountain ridge.
  • Crossing the river during a storm was a perilous decision.
  • She embarked on a perilous adventure into the unknown.
Hazardous
  • The factory stores hazardous chemicals that require special handling.
  • Working without a helmet on a construction site is hazardous.
  • Disposing of batteries improperly can be hazardous to the environment.