perilously

P3E1R1I1L1O1U1S1L1Y4
/ˈpɛ.ɹɪ.ləs.li/

adverb

In a perilous manner.

UncommonScrabble 15

Meanings

adverbperilously (comparative more perilously, superlative most perilously)

comparative more perilously · superlative most perilously

  1. In a perilous manner.

    A door flopped open, wobbling perilously on its one remaining hinge.

    1988, Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, William Heinemann Ltd, page 90
    1 more example

    A rather interesting and notable convenience, however, is that of ice water bags, which are hung on to the outside of the coaches at certain stops. These can be reached by leaning out of the window rather perilously, to unhook them, and paper cups are stocked in the compartments.

    1951 February, K. Westcott Jones, “Some Australian Railway Byways”, in Railway Magazine, page 118

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbin a dangerous manner

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishperilously
  2. Englishperilously

From Middle English perilously; equivalent to perilous + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian опасно, рисковано
  • опасно (opasno)in a perilous manner
  • рисковано (riskovano)in a perilous manner
Icelandic hættulega, háskalega
  • hættulegain a perilous manner
  • háskalegain a perilous manner
Cite this entry
APA

perilously. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perilously

MLA

“perilously.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perilously. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “perilously,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/perilously.

Source: perilously on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.