Synonyms of hazardous

hazardous

adjective

ˈha-zər-dəs 

as in dangerous

involving potential loss or injury

a hazardous journey across the arctic ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dangerous
• perilous
• risky
• serious
• unsafe
• precarious
• treacherous
• menacing
• unhealthy
• threatening
• venturesome
• grave
• grievous
• random
• parlous
• fatal
• harmful
• destructive
• detrimental
• jeopardizing
• uncertain
• unpleasant
• adverse
• bad
• lethal
• deadly
• insecure
• sickening
• injurious
• haphazard
• ultrahazardous
• dicey
• chance
• deleterious
• distressing
• ugly
• murderous
• malignant
• noxious
• pernicious
• nasty
• fell
• evil
• wicked
• baneful
• hurtful
• killer
• inimical
• dire
• ill
• mortal
• fateful
• deathly
• baleful
• pestilent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• safe
• harmless
• nonhazardous
• innocuous
• innocent
• beneficial
• nonthreatening
• good
• advantageous
• unthreatening
• ultrasafe

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hazardous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of hazardous are dangerous, perilous, precarious, and risky. While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When is dangerous a more appropriate choice than hazardous?

In some situations, the words dangerous and hazardous are roughly equivalent. However, dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

When could perilous be used to replace hazardous?

Although the words perilous and hazardous have much in common, perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

In what contexts can precarious take the place of hazardous?

While the synonyms precarious and hazardous are close in meaning, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

Where would risky be a reasonable alternative to hazardous?

While in some cases nearly identical to hazardous, risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hazardous

The film set transformed into a hazardous arena where minor oversights led to severe injuries. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Because of the forecast storm and the threat of hazardous travel conditions, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee closed state offices Wednesday. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 19 Feb. 2025

This is what happened with Apophis, the previous record-setting potentially hazardous asteroid. —Lee Billings, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025

Arctic air is interacting with a strengthening storm system to bring hazardous winter weather to the Central US that will eventually reach the mid-Atlantic coast. —Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025