Synonym Chooser

How is the word risky distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of risky are dangerous, hazardous, perilous, and precarious. While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

When can dangerous be used instead of risky?

While the synonyms dangerous and risky are close in meaning, dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

When could hazardous be used to replace risky?

Although the words hazardous and risky have much in common, hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When would perilous be a good substitute for risky?

The words perilous and risky can be used in similar contexts, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

When might precarious be a better fit than risky?

While in some cases nearly identical to risky, precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

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 risky Luckily, there are ways to spot risky drivers early and protect yourself before things escalate. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025 The project was greenlit during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a moment when movie musicals were considered risky, and romantic comedies had fallen out of favor. Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025 The app will now treat teen accounts more like a PG-13 movie, automatically filtering out mature or risky content for anyone under 18. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025 Placing the future of a sport in jurors’ hands is risky—perhaps reason enough for the parties to find common ground. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for risky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for risky
Adjective
  • This means too much potassium in your blood, which can be dangerous if not treated.
    Merve Ceylan, Health, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The Mark is a spy flick centered on Eden (Alba), an enigmatic spy on a covert and dangerous mission.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Heavy snow and strong winds could impact major routes, isolate higher-elevation communities, and create hazardous conditions for early-season recreation.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Use your low beam headlights, slow down, and be prepared for periods of hazardous driving conditions.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The 121-year-old park in Midtown is the scene of a child's birthday that turns perilous as gusty winds send a red kite, and the little girl holding it, soaring above the Parthenon.
    Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The first time Kuhn met with the cardiothoracic surgeon, her condition was already perilous.
    CalMatters, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Blaylock was charged with felony injury to a child with serious bodily injury, court records show.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
  • By the eighth inning, the Mariners were facing the serious possibility of having to win both games in Toronto to take the series.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Risky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/risky. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on risky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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