RISKS Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

risks 1 of 2

noun

plural of risk

as in threats

something that may cause injury or harm mountain climbing is a risk, but the thrill and challenge are worth it

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risks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of risk

as in hazards

to take a chance on Colette didn't want to risk running out of food for her party, so she bought twice what she thought she would actually need

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as in endangers

to place in danger we refuse to risk our life savings on this investment scheme

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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 risks

Noun

Anyone who trains their eyes too closely on one policy adjustment risks missing the forest for the trees. — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026 Brinda Somaya, an architect and chair of the WMW International Expert Panel, emphasized the urgency of addressing these risks. — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Oct. 2026 Sanitation crews are also working to clear debris and shore up burn scar areas to mitigate flood risks, Mayor Karen Bass’ office said in a statement. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 The board cited financial difficulties, bankruptcy risks and building safety concerns. — Paul Grein, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026 Still, for many homeowners, building equity makes the expenses and risks worth it. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 But tapping into its emergency reserves risks leaving Europe exposed should supply disruptions from the war in the Middle East and Ukraine continue. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 The pope, who has made sounding the alarm about the risks of AI a central part of his 16-month papacy, put the issue at the heart of his visit to France. — Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026 Almost everyone wants capital, but the risks and the consequences from the capital need to be evaluated carefully. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

The policy, however, risks a downshift in hiring and an uptick in the unemployment rate, though such fallout typically takes hold after a lag time lasting several months. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 That seemingly sound advice from the master of the field now risks backfiring, Doctorow argued. — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 But his rejection Saturday risks a return to fighting that would drive oil prices higher. — Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026 Most women spend years coloring their hair, so Martin has to contend with lifting multiple layers of pigment, which risks breakage. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026 Keeping them in public cloud AI pipelines risks leaks or unauthorized training use, so private infrastructure with strict access controls often makes more sense. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Not just the supposedly existential risk that AI leaders started recently claiming required a slowdown, but also risks from bad actors like hackers or terrorists wielding AI to attack either country’s infrastructure. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026 By cutting the number of working holiday visas, critics say, the government risks causing more economic pain. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 That may be particularly troubling to Washington, where intelligence officials have already voiced concern that a potential advanced fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia risks the technology being transferred to China, The New York Times reported. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for risks

Noun

And as these entities' use and reliance on digital systems expands, so too does their exposure to potential cybersecurity threats.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
Alito’s concerns are not unfounded, as threats to members in recent history have raised alarm about justices’ safety.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of threats

Verb

However, the work, done with Tanzanian government partners, helps track threatened species and monitor human activity that endangers the region’s wildlife, making the few cameras lost in the process all the more worth it.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026
In response to that case, a biotech CEO recently warned in these pages that letting courts and politicians second-guess the FDA’s scientific judgment endangers the whole drug pipeline.

— Julie F. Kay, STAT, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of endangers

Noun

Rich tried to vocalize his concerns, writing about the dangers in columns for outlets like Time magazine.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
Artificial intelligence insiders warned New York City's leaders about the dangers of the emerging technology on Monday, calling for greater oversight as local governments move to respond to mounting concerns that the systems could endanger humanity.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of dangers

Verb

Orlando Bloom stars as a village blacksmith who ventures to Jerusalem with his dad (Liam Neeson) to defend the holy city.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
That distortion should gradually alter S301's orbit — because the star ventures so close to Sagittarius A*, those changes may become measurable within about a decade.

— Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of ventures

Verb

After five shootings in less than a week left at least 46 people dead, South Africa is wrestling with how to tackle a spike in gun crime that threatens to undo recent progress in reducing its notoriously high murder rate.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Now, the growing popularity of AI search with consumers threatens to reverse that progress.

— Dax Dasilva, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of threatens

Verb

On deck is Hungerland, an upcoming feature that confronts obesity and the damaging effects of America’s food system, and Extension, which examines the dangers of social media and its link to many teen suicides.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
Any choice for or against the work, including the choice of no-choice—of indifference or disregard—confronts the question of authenticity.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of confronts

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risking

risks

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Style

“Risks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/risks. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of risks

noun

verb

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