risqué

[ ri-skey; French rees-key ]

adjective

1. daringly close to indelicacy or impropriety; off-color:

   a risqué story.

   Synonyms: ribald, indecent, gross, broad

risqué

/ ˈrɪskeɪ /

adjective

1. bordering on impropriety or indecency

   a risqué joke

Word History and Origins

Origin of risqué¹

1865–70; < French, past participle of risquer to risk

Word History and Origins

Origin of risqué¹

C19: from French risquer to hazard, risk

Example Sentences

“Johnny always had these slightly risque jokes but had a great sense of what mainstream America would tolerate,” Leno says.

From Los Angeles Times

Former President Barack Obama took aim at Trump's infatuation with attendance during the Democratic National Convention, using his hands to turn his remark into a somewhat risqué joke.

From Salon

As he describes in “Live From New York,” he had taken all the material that was too risqué for them and turned it into a stand-up set, with the goal of landing a TV job.

From Los Angeles Times

People like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo have blown up since starring on “Girl Meets World” and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” respectively, and their current music is noticeably more risque than even Cyrus’ breakout hit, “Can’t Be Tamed,” which was released while she was still starring on “Hannah Montana” in 2010.

From Los Angeles Times

"The saintly Sylvia feels cast in the mould of a recognisably Rooney-esque heroine, and the blithe Naomi, complete with nose stud and a risqué social media account, teeters a little too closely to a Gen Z variation of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl."

From BBC

Related Words

• bawdy
• erotic
• lewd
• lurid
• naughty
• off-color
• provocative
• suggestive