risk 1 of 2

noun

ˈrisk How to pronounce risk (audio)
Definition of risknext
1
as in threat
something that may cause injury or harm mountain climbing is a risk, but the thrill and challenge are worth it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in danger
the state of not being protected from injury, harm, or evil children living in poverty are considered at risk for a number of medical and developmental problems

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

risk

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to venture
to take a chance on Colette didn't want to risk running out of food for her party, so she bought twice what she thought she would actually need

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2
as in to endanger
to place in danger we refuse to risk our life savings on this investment scheme

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of risk
Noun
This business has risk built into it because risk comes from the consumer side. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 Depending on the organization, security and risk teams should define what agents can access and do, while technology teams implement and enforce those controls. — Tony Grout, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
An explosion or a meltdown on the moon’s surface would risk turning entire regions into no-go zones. — Selam Gebrekidan, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Though Europe was most vocal in its concerns, Goldman Sachs economists warned a US diesel ban risked lowering GDP across Latin America by around 1%. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for risk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for risk
  1. threat
  2. danger
  3. venture
  4. endanger
  5. jeopardy
  6. hazard
  7. threaten
  8. trouble
Noun
  • Altman was careful to say that Astra, OpenAI’s current flagship model, does not pose an existential threat.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Jamal allegedly promised to protect the Feeding Our Future operatives against the threat of prosecution, took their money, and then turned some of them over to investigators.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of threat
Noun
  • While such cardiovascular dangers are real, Harvard Medical School experts say there's no scientifically valid evidence behind the common belief that caffeine can stunt a person's growth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Gavin Francis From its origins in the classical physique and homoerotic spectacle, bodybuilding today often involves the use of steroids whose dangers are not properly understood.
    — Conor Heffernan, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of danger
Verb
  • This year marks the first time the event has ventured outside the capital.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026
  • As Veach recalled it, that began with venturing back into the Eagles’ library with a basket and loading it up with VHS tapes.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of venture
Verb
  • Against that backdrop, pupils' complaints that education funding shortfalls are endangering their futures have found a sympathetic audience.
    — NICOLAS GARRIGA, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Against that backdrop, pupils’ complaints that education funding shortfalls are endangering their futures have found a sympathetic audience.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of endanger
Noun
  • However, even following last week’s news, there have still been obstacles to overcome — issues that appeared to have thrown the bout into jeopardy.
    — Tom Burrows, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • For Tampa, what was even more dispiriting than falling to 0-3 was that quarterback Baker Mayfield left with a dislocated thumb that puts his active league-high streak of 54 consecutive starts in jeopardy.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of jeopardy
Verb
  • Scholars hazarded theories as to how an unschooled middle-aged Black woman from the South could brush with genius.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • That hazards statement originally had been in place through early Wednesday morning.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 15 June 2026
Definition of hazard
Verb
  • In several messages quoted in the ruling, Seaver allegedly threatened Nozell and other people connected to Parton’s estate.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026
  • As a child of parents who bred him to be the next Green Lantern, John knows full well the conflict between conscience and instinct, a ceaseless war that threatens to explode to the surface.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of threaten
Noun
  • Nothing seems to be too much trouble for the staff who clearly have an affection for the property and its owners, with many having worked there for decades.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The financial troubles are especially concerning because the Los Angeles Unified School District has failed to meet past budget reduction targets, the report concluded, and the stakes have become higher, with solutions more painful to carry out.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of trouble

Phrases Containing risk

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rising (to)
risk
risked
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Cite this Entry

“Risk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/risk. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on risk

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about risk

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