risk-averse
Preferring sure things
Risk-averse describes someone who avoids uncertainty and prefers safer options, even at the cost of potential gains.
A risk-averse investor chooses bonds over stocks; a risk-averse person takes the secure job over the promising startup.
The term appears often in finance and economics but applies to any domain where choices involve uncertainty: She's too risk-averse to try the new restaurant.
Careful to avoid risk
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- waryGuardedly alert
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
guarded · hesitant · apprehensive · unadventurous · tentative · timid · leery · chary
Noncommittal maneuvering
- diversificationExpanding into varied areas
- bondsTies that unite
- savingsAccumulated money kept
- treasuryStored organizational funds
certificates · blue-chip · conservative · principal · fixed-income · annuities · collateral · reserves
Uncertain possible event
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- bufferProtective intermediate space
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
mitigation · insurance · redundancy · worst-case · precaution · planning · assessment · avoidance
cautious
Careful to avoid risk
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- waryGuardedly alert
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
circumspect · guarded · hesitant · apprehensive · unadventurous · tentative · timid · leery · chary · vigilant
hedging
Noncommittal maneuvering
- diversificationExpanding into varied areas
- bondsTies that unite
- savingsAccumulated money kept
treasury · certificates · blue-chip · conservative · principal · fixed-income · annuities · collateral · reserves · liquidity
contingency
Uncertain possible event
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- bufferProtective intermediate space
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
fallback · mitigation · insurance · redundancy · worst-case · precaution · planning · assessment · avoidance · prevention
risk-averserisk-taking
Accepting possible harm
gambler · speculator · thrill-seeker · daredevil · adventurous
risk-averseaggressive
Hostile and confrontational
speculator · speculative · high-risk · risk-on · leveraged
risk, risky, risked, adverse, risks, adversity, risking, aversion, averse