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Parlous is both a synonym and a derivative of perilous; it came to be as an alteration of perilous in Middle English. (Perilous is derived from the Anglo-French perilleus, which ultimately comes from the Latin word for "danger," perīculum.) Both words are documented in use from at least the 14th century. Seven centuries later, both remain in steady use, often modifying state or times; however, perilous is, by far, the preferred synonym. More than likely, this is from having the familiar peril as a base.
Synonyms
Examples of parlous in a Sentence
Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
The second reason why Starmer cannot ignore the parlous state of the union is the strong connection between power and prosperity.
—Fintan O’Toole, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2024
Given the parlous state of Pyongyang’s relations with Washington and Seoul since the failure of the Hanoi summit in 2019, there are few guardrails in place to prevent complex situations from spiraling out of control.
—Sue Mi Terry, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024
The challenge in Arizona will be especially fraught given the parlous condition of the Arizona Republican Party.
—The Editors, National Review, 11 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for parlous 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parlous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Parlous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parlous. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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