parlous

adjective

par·lous ˈpär-ləs

Synonyms of parlous

obsolete : dangerously shrewd or cunning

: full of danger or risk

parlously adverb

Did you know?

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.

Examples of parlous in a Sentence

The company is in a parlous financial situation. He talked about the parlous state of the country.

Recent Examples on the Web

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With figures like this on the table and given the current parlous state of the industry, surely the most pertinent question is whether movie theaters can afford not to be thinking about how best to welcome in their customers with different needs. Follow me on LinkedIn. —Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 As announced last week, mere hours after Ratcliffe was lamenting the club’s parlous finances, United are now planning to build a new, 100,000-capacity stadium, in a project expected to cost £2bn. —Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025 Its economic position is parlous, its demographic situation is miserable and its military capacities have atrophied, and most of the chest-thumping about a revival of European power is empty talk and fantasy politics. —Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025 Donald Trump has returned to the White House at a particularly parlous moment for American interests. —Seth Cropsey, National Review, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parlous