as in suggestive
hinting at or intended to call to mind matters regarded as indecent
the bridal shower was filled with risqué banter and laughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 risqué
Jennifer Lawrence's ethereal red carpet look (and bangs) Jennifer Lawrence bucked the traditional tone of the carpet with a risque floral number from Givenchy.
—
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Those include photos of his bedroom in New York, his risque wall art and a taxidermied tiger.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
And before long, the showgirls and their risque routines began to seem outdated, compared to the gravity-defining, high-tech, and appropriate-for-all-ages stunts of a neo-circus.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2025
After The Wall Street Journal report described a risque drawing that Trump was said to have sent to Epstein decades ago, Trump sued the paper, its owner and reporters.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Jennifer Garner joked in the comments Gwyneth Paltrow is sharing a new recipe for one of her favorite breakfasts — and opting for a risque look in the process.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 15 June 2025
Senior leaders at the social media behemoth were reportedly aware of the chatbots’ tendencies to foray into risque and explicit discussions and multiple staffers flagged their concerns internally.
—Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Her latest red carpet appearance is aligned since the track is a bit risque.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Those include photos of his bedroom in New York, his risque wall art and a taxidermied tiger.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
And before long, the showgirls and their risque routines began to seem outdated, compared to the gravity-defining, high-tech, and appropriate-for-all-ages stunts of a neo-circus.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2025
After The Wall Street Journal report described a risque drawing that Trump was said to have sent to Epstein decades ago, Trump sued the paper, its owner and reporters.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025
Jennifer Garner joked in the comments Gwyneth Paltrow is sharing a new recipe for one of her favorite breakfasts — and opting for a risque look in the process.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 15 June 2025
Senior leaders at the social media behemoth were reportedly aware of the chatbots’ tendencies to foray into risque and explicit discussions and multiple staffers flagged their concerns internally.
—Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Her latest red carpet appearance is aligned since the track is a bit risque.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 11 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for risqué
Adjective
-
Wasserman rode on Epstein’s plane and exchanged suggestive messages with Maxwell, the files the DOJ released show.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
More disturbingly, some MAGA cultural warriors claimed to be disgusted by Bad Bunny’s suggestive dancing and called for his censorship, harking back to the 1950s, when emerging superstar Elvis Presley was shot by TV cameras from the waist up during his appearance at the Ed Sullivan show.—
Ediberto Roman,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Freak from The Girls Deli in North Park is a hot sandwich with salty pastrami, brisket, melted jack cheese, bacon, mustard, spicy sriracha mayo, onions, and jalapeños.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The traditional ingredients of a scampi—garlic, white wine, and butter—meld with the essence of a seafood boil thanks to hot sauce, spicy sausage, and Cajun seasoning.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Risqué.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/risqu%C3%A9. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
