Russian roulette

noun

1

: an act of bravado consisting of spinning the cylinder of a revolver loaded with one cartridge, pointing the muzzle at one's own head, and pulling the trigger

2

: something resembling Russian roulette in its potential for disaster

Taking cocaine is playing Russian roulette.

—Jonathan Nicholas

Examples of Russian roulette in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Haught, whose death at the time was reportedly declared a suicide, died of a gunshot wound to the head after an alleged game of Russian roulette. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Authorities concluded that Haught had died accidentally while playing Russian roulette with a revolver, but that finding was later questioned. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

His regular blood tests feel like playing Russian roulette. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

The governor is playing Russian roulette with people’s lives. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Russian roulette

• electrojet
• plantagenet
• videlicet
• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette