risky

[ris-kee]

adjective

riskier, riskiest 

1. attended with or involving risk; hazardous.

   a risky undertaking.

   Synonyms: perilous, dangerous

risky

/ ˈrɪskɪ /

adjective

1. involving danger; perilous

Other Word Forms

• riskily adverb
• riskiness noun
• unrisky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of risky¹

First recorded in 1820–30; risk + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Some investors may still find the used car industry too risky for their blood.

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But while the mood is a little less fractious than last week, uncertainty continues to weigh on riskier assets, with bitcoin hovering around $87,000.

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According to a Christian group involved in the case, the pupils managed to escape between Friday and Saturday in what is being described as a brave and risky attempt to flee their captors.

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"Previous studies showed that failing queens were heavily infected with viruses, and now we know that those infections can lead to supersedure, which is risky for the colony and expensive for beekeepers to manage."

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Policymakers argue that key inputs to such rules are highly uncertain and constantly changing, making mechanical adherence risky.

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Related Words

• delicate 
• dicey 
• hazardous 
• perilous 
• precarious 
• sensitive 
• speculative 
• treacherous 
• tricky 
• uncertain 
• unhealthy 
• unsafe 
• unsound 

When To Use

What does risky mean?

Risky describes something that involves risk or hazards, as in Walking a tightrope without a net below is risky.Risky is almost always used to describe an action taken that could lead to negative consequences, such as when you decide not to study for your final exams.Example: Working as a firefighter is a risky but worthwhile job.