risqué

adjective

ris·​qué ri-ˈskā How to pronounce risqué (audio)
Synonyms of risquénext
: verging on impropriety or indecency : off-color
a risqué joke

Examples of risqué in a Sentence

a song with risqué lyrics the bridal shower was filled with risqué banter and laughter
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.
Those include photos of his bedroom in New York, his risque wall art and a taxidermied tiger. Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025 And before long, the showgirls and their risque routines began to seem outdated, compared to the gravity-defining, high-tech, and appropriate-for-all-ages stunts of a neo-circus. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2025 After The Wall Street Journal report described a risque drawing that Trump was said to have sent to Epstein decades ago, Trump sued the paper, its owner and reporters. Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025 Jennifer Garner joked in the comments Gwyneth Paltrow is sharing a new recipe for one of her favorite breakfasts — and opting for a risque look in the process. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 15 June 2025 Senior leaders at the social media behemoth were reportedly aware of the chatbots’ tendencies to foray into risque and explicit discussions and multiple staffers flagged their concerns internally. Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Her latest red carpet appearance is aligned since the track is a bit risque. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025 Many deemed her performances as being quite risque, but DeSanto always took pride in her rowdy live shows. Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from past participle of risquer to risk, from risque

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of risqué was in 1867

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Risqué.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/risqu%C3%A9. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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