high-stakes
Major consequences riding
High-stakes describes situations where significant consequences—money, reputation, lives—hang on the outcome.
A high-stakes poker game involves large sums.
High-stakes negotiations could determine a company's survival.
The term comes from gambling, where stakes are the amount wagered, but applies broadly to any situation with major risks or rewards: high-stakes testing, high-stakes diplomacy.
Hearth implement for coals
- blackjackCard game to twenty-one
- rouletteSpinning wheel wager
- casinoFacility for wagering
- wagerStake on uncertainty
betting · jackpot · baccarat · craps · slot-machine · ante · bookie · croupier
Expressing disapproval or importance
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- crucialOf supreme importance
- consequentialHaving significant effects
- momentousOf great significance
weighty · life-changing · fateful · irreversible · crossroads · deliberation · watershed · game-changing
Exposure to harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- jeopardyRisk of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
vulnerability · liability · brinkmanship · gambit · venture · speculation · uncertainty · consequence
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- intensityStrength or force level
- urgencyPressing need for action
- deadlineTime limit for completion
tension · nerve-wracking · clutch · crunch-time · adrenaline · sweating · nail-biting · white-knuckle
Negotiation between nations
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- dealAgreement or distribution
- mergerCorporate combination
acquisition · arbitration · mediation · brinkmanship · standoff · leverage · concession · ultimatum
poker
Hearth implement for coals
wager · betting · jackpot · baccarat · craps · slot-machine · ante · bookie · croupier · dealer
critical
Expressing disapproval or importance
- pivotalVitally important, deciding
- crucialOf supreme importance
- consequentialHaving significant effects
momentous · weighty · life-changing · fateful · irreversible · crossroads · deliberation · watershed · game-changing · decisive
danger
Exposure to harm
exposure · vulnerability · liability · brinkmanship · gambit · venture · speculation · uncertainty · consequence · threat
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- intensityStrength or force level
- urgencyPressing need for action
deadline · tension · nerve-wracking · clutch · crunch-time · adrenaline · sweating · nail-biting · white-knuckle · heart-pounding
diplomacy
Negotiation between nations
merger · acquisition · arbitration · mediation · brinkmanship · standoff · leverage · concession · ultimatum · showdown
- risk phrasestake a chance, take a gamble, risk it all, go for broke, roll the dice
- competition typesfierce, intense, cutthroat, heated, friendly
- Fast & Furiousaction-packed, adrenaline rush, breakneck, drag racing, engine
- crunch timecrunch time, do or die, do-or-die, last chance, now or never
- scary feelingsterrified, frightening, dreadful, creepiness, goosebumps
- cricketbatsman, bowler, wicket, bat, ball
high-stakesinconsequential
Lacking significance or impact
trivial · negligible · minor · small-time · insignificant
high-stakeslow-risk
Minimal potential for harm
risk-free · low-pressure · safe · stress-free · harmless
high-stakescasual
Relaxed and informal
recreational · lighthearted · playful · friendly · laid-back
high, higher, stake, highest, heighten, stakes, heightened, heightening, heightens