risk 1 of 2

Definition of risknext
1
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm mountain climbing is a risk, but the thrill and challenge are worth it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

risk

2 of 2

verb

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 risk
Noun
The health risks associated with pumping gas While pumping gas is an act that most people (New Jerseyans excluded) do without thinking, there are health hazards associated with it. Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2026 With no end to the larger skirmish in sight, fears persist that the shipment of medical supplies could remain at risk. Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Nuggets did a lot of switching on screens, which risked giving up mismatches. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026 This time around, though, heavy casualties risk triggering internal mass unrest in a nation where a sizable portion of the population is anti-regime, regardless of their religious embrace of martyrdom. Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for risk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for risk
Noun
  • San Francisco police early Friday arrested a person who allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman's home and made threats outside the AI giant's San Francisco headquarters, the company said in a statement.
    Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Officials from the agency were entirely absent from last month’s RSAC conference, despite cybersecurity threats to national security being at an all-time high, especially considering the country is at war.
    Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Other signs warned of danger from crumbling masonry overhead, though there was none of the scaffolding that might accompany such notices.
    Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Red danger flags were flying due to ocean conditions.
    Joan Murray, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family offices, institutional investors and large public companies.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
  • There will be little temptation to venture away from the comforts of the resort’s idyllic and famously still beach, unless by boat, kayak, or bike to explore the surrounding archipelago’s dramatic cliffs, caves, and paths.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While not endangered, American woodcocks have experienced a population decline in recent decades.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The cameras are not used to write tickets for speeding or other traffic violations, but can help deter crime or locate missing or endangered people, officials have said.
    Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The uncertainty over what was agreed to and what was not has put the ceasefire into jeopardy.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026
  • This promises investors dramatic upside, or the jeopardy of existential implosion, depending on their results on the field.
    Andrés Martinez, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That’s why Mack is reluctant to hazard a guess as to how many more wins this could mean this season for the Royals, who are seeking to get back to the postseason after falling short last year in the wake of their 2024 breakthrough.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 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
Verb
  • Texas hemp retailers are getting temporary relief after a judge blocked the state's new ban on smokable THC products – a rule that shop owners say threatened to wipe out large portions of their business.
    Briseida Holguin, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Then, guards who worked for the contractor Critical Response Strategies began taunting detainees, threatening to enter the cage where immigrants were held.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The story involves the troubles of a beloved brother, and the longtime effort to reckon with his pain and that of his family.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Lord and Cionel Perez pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings before turning it over to Clayton Beeter, who notched his second save in three tries but had to pitch out of trouble.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Risk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/risk. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on risk

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster