risk-averse
Americanadverb
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reluctant to take risks; tending to avoid risks as much as possible.
risk-averse entrepreneurs.
-
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.
Etymology
Origin of risk-averse
First recorded in 1960–65; risk ( def. ) + averse ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The bond-market rout of 2026 may be jolting markets, but it’s also gaining a important following among savers and the risk-averse.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
Solsjkaer's side embodied United's DNA before Ruben Amorim looked to play a more choreographed and risk-averse style of play.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
It’s also a risk-averse one, in which publishers worry about taking on any project that might face a boycott or predictable headwinds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
A steady, if inconspicuous, presence in California Democratic politics over the years, Becerra is largely perceived as a risk-averse candidate who would continue the status quo if he is elected.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
If it’s the case that El-Sayed has already consolidated the progressive vote, and the undecideds are more moderate, risk-averse Democrats, it could be a very close contest.
From Slate ● Jul. 11, 2026
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
