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hazard 1 of 2

noun

ˈha-zərd How to pronounce hazard (audio)
Definition of hazardnext
1
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm the tumbledown old barn was considered a fire hazard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in luck
the uncertain course of events it was only by hazard and good fortune that we found our way back to the trail

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hazard

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to endanger
to place in danger just so the tourists could see the sea lions up close, the captain needlessly hazarded his ship

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to risk
to take a chance on was unwilling to hazard landing the plane on the small island, which didn't even have an airfield

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hazard
Noun
For all of its hazards, Instinct is a harbinger of where AI is headed. — Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2026 Other toxic hazards include Himalayan salt lamps and essential oils, Butler said. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
When asked to predict demand for a product that doesn’t exist yet, AI will hazard a guess based on the past. — Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 18 Mar. 2026 Clothes Iron and Steamer Many cruise lines have policies forbidding the use of clothes irons and steamers and won’t allow these fire hazards onboard. — Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hazard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hazard
  1. threat
  2. luck
  3. endanger
  4. risk
  5. danger
  6. chance
  7. threaten
  8. accident
Noun
  • Ben Ross tagged at third, but Lowe’s strong one-bounce throw got to catcher Moisés Ballesteros in time for a sweeping tag-out of Ross out at home to end Minnesota’s threat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, a new tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic, named Fay, but does not appear to pose a threat to land.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of threat
Noun
  • Like many who were detained only to be released, Cazares needed a combination of luck and legal might.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Some Republicans could not believe their luck when Lawrence beat two more traditional candidates in August's Democratic primary.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of luck
Verb
  • Similarly, a citizen who violates technology export or import regulations could be banned from leaving if the action endangers industrial or technological security, the regulation says.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities could prevent Chinese citizens from leaving if their departure violates export control rules in a way that could endanger national industrial or technological security.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of endanger
Verb
  • African economies risk being left behind by an AI revolution built on data that does not adequately represent the continent, according to the Gates Foundation’s 2026 Goalkeepers report.
    — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Still, these institutions are already showing the limitations of what private institutions are willing to risk for the public realm.
    — Sam Lubell, Curbed, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of risk
Noun
  • Researchers think this happens because swapping stories about social bonds, unexpected dangers and survival are advantageous for our evolution.
    — Hannah Little, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2026
  • For much of our evolutionary history, the sounds of birds going about their business may have been a reassuring signal that the surrounding environment was free of danger.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of danger
Noun
  • Nevertheless, for homebuyers with thin credit histories, having an alternative credit score used could mean a greater chance of getting more favorable mortgage terms.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Connecting with family history For Kassidy Angelo, Gioia’s co-founder and managing director, La Sponda signifies not only a new frontier for the company but also a chance to revisit her family’s heritage.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of chance
Verb
  • This is what extinction threatens, piece by piece, thread by thread, species by species.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Recent gains by Houthi militants threaten shipping in the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait and could further spike energy prices.
    — Antoni Slodkowski Reuters, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of threaten
Noun
  • An accident disrupts the ritual, and Keigetsu, thrown off balance, sees her spell spiral out of her control, sending the two women back into each other’s bodies.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • As the news of the helicopter crash spread, media crews from the bus accident scene began rushing to the helicopter site and were told by law enforcement to evacuate because the situation was too dangerous, NBC4 footage showed.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of accident

Browse Nearby Words

haywire
hazard
hazarded
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Cite this Entry

“Hazard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hazard. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hazard

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hazard

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