risk-averse

[ risk-uh-vurs ]

adverb

1. reluctant to take risks; tending to avoid risks as much as possible:

   risk-averse entrepreneurs.

2. of or noting a person who invests in stocks, bonds, etc., with lower risks and generally lower rates of return so as to minimize the possibility of financial loss:

   risk-averse investors who stick with government bonds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of risk-averse¹

First recorded in 1960–65; risk ( def ) + averse ( def )

Example Sentences

Ambassador Shirley Temple Black attributed this to the “deeply risk-averse psychology of the Czech people.”

From The Daily Beast

Yet an answer, or even a speculation, would have added insight and originality to this terrific but risk-averse debut.

From The Daily Beast

Improvising can certainly be unnerving, especially for politicians who are trained to be risk-averse.

From The Daily Beast

Despite the rise of Facebook, the founder of Netscape says risk-averse public markets are hostile to technology startups.

From The Daily Beast

Ideas are always risky, and a Hillary 2016 campaign will be a massively risk-averse campaign.

From The Daily Beast

Assured of low prices and preoccupied with economic survival – people become strongly risk averse.

From Project Gutenberg

But many operators are so risk averse that, in effect, they increase the inefficiency of the market in order to avoid it.

From Project Gutenberg