What does riskily mean?
“Riskily” means that something is done in a dangerous, uncertain, or potentially harmful way. It commonly describes actions that expose a person to injury, loss, failure, or other unwelcome consequences. For example, a hiker might travel “riskily” along a narrow cliff path, meaning that the route is dangerous or precarious. The word can also carry a negative judgment, suggesting that the action is unnecessarily hazardous or has been undertaken without adequate caution. Although accurate in many situations, “riskily” is somewhat less usual in formal prose than the more direct alternatives “dangerously” and “hazardously.” It is especially useful when the focus is on the manner of an action rather than simply describing the action itself.
adverbIn a way that involves danger, uncertainty, or the possibility of serious harm or loss.
- In a dangerous or hazardous manner.
- With a significant possibility of failure, loss, or harmful consequences.
"The team decided to cross the river riskily during the storm."
"The driver overtook the truck riskily on the bend."
"She riskily attempted to repair the machine while it was still running."
“Riskily” reminds us that the manner of doing something can matter just as much as the action itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does riskily come from?
“Riskily” is formed from the adjective “risky,” which in turn comes from the noun “risk.” The word “risk” entered English in the late 16th century from French risque, ultimately associated with the Italian word risico and a longer tradition from Latin. Related forms include “riskless,” which means without risk, and “riskiness,” a noun meaning the state or quality of being risky. “Riskily” developed as the adverb expressing the manner of doing something in a risky way.
Related word forms
How riskily is actually used
This adverb is relatively uncommon in formal writing and is often replaced by “dangerously” or “with considerable risk.” It can also imply that an action is performed in a way that seems needlessly or recklessly dangerous.
Easily confused with riskily
“Risky” is an adjective that describes something involving danger, while “riskily” is an adverb describing how an action is performed.