risky

adjective

ˈri-skē 

riskier; riskiest

: attended with risk or danger : hazardous

riskiness noun

Synonyms

• dangerous
• hazardous
• perilous
• serious

Choose the Right Synonym for risky

dangerous, hazardous, precarious, perilous, risky mean bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury.

dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Examples of risky in a Sentence

Her plan is too risky.

Recent Examples on the Web

Poonen said the combination, which brought together his fast-growing but unprofitable firm with the larger, highly profitable Veritas, was a risky but calculated deal. —Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025

With that being said, driving barefoot can also be risky. —Georgea Kovanis, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2025

For the five-year period referenced above, there were 28 extremely hot and risky days for pregnant people in Florida – 19 of which were attributable to global warming. —Jessica Meszaros, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025

The architect added that the permanence of paint makes the practice risky. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing risky

• risky business
• risky move

Rhymes for risky

• frisky
• whiskey
• whisky

Kids Definition

risky

adjective

ˈris-kē 

riskier; riskiest

: having or bringing risk : dangerous