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

But in a webinar on Thursday, Dan Wang, a former China technology analyst and research fellow at the Hoover Institution, said he felt China’s move was a risky one.

Read more on Barron's

Do we have too much invested in stocks, and in riskier ones?

Read more on MarketWatch

Suppose we’re trying to decide how much of a risky portfolio to own.

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So far it is not promising wholesale scrapping and rebuilding of how Wales works - something they think is risky in the current financial climate - although the party stresses it will still offer "radical" policies.

Read more on BBC

The spread—the difference—between yields for junk bonds and less risky debt is fairly tight.

Read more on Barron's

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.