riskier; riskiest
: attended with risk or danger : hazardous
riskiness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for risky

dangerous, hazardous, precarious, perilous, risky mean bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury.

dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Examples of risky in a Sentence

Her plan is too risky.
Recent Examples on the Web Of course, spending time in risky, avalanche-prone terrain isn’t a requirement for getting into backcountry skiing. Josh Laskin, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024 Raising taxes is politically risky, if not economically unfeasible, given that the country’s economy is already on life support with much of the working population living abroad, fighting in the war or unemployed. David L. Stern, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 In 2019, inspectors visited nearly 12,000 of the riskier food facilities three times, the county said. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Editors’ Picks Image To modern eyes, though, what is most striking is how risky so many of those hires seem now. Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 LexisNexis also attributes that rise to riskier driving behaviors such as speeding, texting behind the wheel and driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 The photographer was commissioned to illustrate Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Harper’s Bazaar, but the novel was deemed too risky and was subsequently sold to Esquire. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 The story follows complete strangers Annie Landsberg and Owen Milgrim who connect during a risky, psychologically intense pharmaceutical trial for a drug intended to eradicate all unnecessary human pain and suffering. Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024 Gambling is risky and should not be used to resolve financial difficulties. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'risky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of risky was in 1813

Dictionary Entries Near risky

Cite this Entry

“Risky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/risky. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

risky

adjective
riskier; riskiest
: having or bringing risk : dangerous

More from Merriam-Webster on risky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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