adjective
parlous
PAR-lus/ˈpɑːrləs/
Full of danger or risk.
The bridge's parlous condition makes its sagging span unsafe above the gorge.
Etymology
The pieces express being full of danger: exposed to death, destruction, or injury. This same force describes a precarious situation in which serious harm threatens.
More examples
- The bridge remains in a parlous state after years of neglect.
- Small farms face a parlous future as water supplies shrink.
- The report reveals the parlous condition of the hospital's equipment.
Forms
parlous
Similar words
- dangerous
- More common and direct; emphasizes the potential to cause harm.
- precarious
- Emphasizes instability and the possibility of failure or collapse.