risky

adjective

ˈri-skē 

riskier; riskiest

: involving the possibility of risk or danger : hazardous

riskiness noun

Synonyms of risky

• dangerous
• hazardous
• perilous
• serious

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

The latest incident is one of several risky encounters reported at Iguazu Falls this year, the agency said. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2026

Inexplicably, six Republicans in the Assembly and one in the Senate agreed to vote for AB 1768, thereby allowing many Democrats to skip the politically risky vote to enable yet another tax hike on working people. —Susan Shelley, Daily News, 10 June 2026

All crew members were rescued, though the US military had to mount a risky combat search-and-rescue operation to retrieve the F-15 fighter jet’s weapon systems officer from the Zagros Mountains in Iran. —Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2026

Meanwhile, Barak noted that keeping troops on extended missions is always risky because conditions change rapidly in combat. —Greg Myre, NPR, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing risky

• risky business
• risky move

Rhymes for risky

• frisky
• whiskey
• whisky

Kids Definition

risky

adjective

ˈris-kē 

riskier; riskiest

: having or bringing risk : dangerous