risky

American  

[ris-kee] / ˈrɪs ki /

adjective

riskier, riskiest

1. attended with or involving risk; hazardous.

   a risky undertaking.

   Synonyms:

   perilous, dangerous

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risky British  

/ ˈrɪskɪ /

adjective

1. involving danger; perilous

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• riskily adverb
• riskiness noun
• unrisky adjective

Etymology

Origin of risky

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

Example Sentences

It pauses some of its key trades, reducing exposure to long-dated and riskier fixed-income assets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Manufacturing is riskier than retail, given the short product cycles common to it, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Milton said building planes is riskier than building trucks.

From The Wall Street Journal

But this would involve us in a risky game of chicken.

From The Wall Street Journal

These partnerships can be risky, regulators say, and the April 2024 collapse of Synapse Financial Technologies serves as a cautionary tale.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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