yellow peril

noun

often capitalized Y&P
1
: a danger to Western civilization held to arise from expansion of the power and influence of eastern Asian peoples
2
: a threat to Western living standards from the influx of eastern Asian laborers willing to work for very low wages

Examples of yellow peril in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The attacks over the last two years did not happen in a vacuum, but reflect the endurance of yellow peril, which physiologically and ideologically desensitizes, dehumanizes, and weaponizes Asians and Asian Americans. — ELLE, 17 Mar. 2022 Hardy responded by joking nihilistically about the rise of China in language tinged with yellow peril metaphors. — Rebecca Davis, Variety, 30 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of yellow peril was in 1895

Rhymes for yellow peril

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Cite this Entry

“Yellow peril.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yellow%20peril. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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