unsafe
Liable to harm
Unsafe describes something that poses risk of harm or danger.
An unsafe building might collapse; unsafe sex risks disease transmission.
The word also applies to conditions lacking security: She felt unsafe walking home alone.
In legal contexts, an unsafe conviction is one that may be wrongful and subject to appeal.
Likely to cause injury
- perilousFraught with danger
- dangerousApt to cause harm
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- precariousDangerously insecure
harmful · risky · accident-prone · injury · harm · accident · unstable · unsound
Prone to sudden change
- unsoundWeak or flawed
- ricketyUnsteady, liable to collapse
- decrepitWorn by age
- dilapidatedRuined through neglect
crumbling · condemned · faulty · defective · substandard · unfit · uninhabitable · ungrounded
Lacking self-assurance
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- fearfulFull of fright
- uncertainNot firmly known
nervous · apprehensive · uneasy · distrustful · wary · threatened · unwelcome · uncomfortable
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
sinister · assailant · intruder · predator · aggressor · stalker · attacker · prowler
Capable of causing death
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- pollutedMade impure by contaminants
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
radioactive · venomous · hazmat · biohazard · chemical · pathogenic · corrosive · asbestos
Betting on uncertain results
- speculativeBased on conjecture
- high-stakesInvolving significant consequences
- chancyInvolving uncertain outcome
- diceyUncertain and hazardous
unpredictable · volatile · reckless · foolhardy · ill-advised · inadvisable · unwise · imprudent
hazardous
Likely to cause injury
- perilousFraught with danger
- dangerousApt to cause harm
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
precarious · harmful · risky · accident-prone · injury · harm · accident · unstable · unsound · unprotected
unstable
Prone to sudden change
dilapidated · crumbling · condemned · faulty · defective · substandard · unfit · uninhabitable · ungrounded · uninsulated
insecure
Lacking self-assurance
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- fearfulFull of fright
uncertain · nervous · apprehensive · uneasy · distrustful · wary · threatened · unwelcome · uncomfortable · intimidated
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- ominousSuggesting something bad approaches
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
hostile · sinister · assailant · intruder · predator · aggressor · stalker · attacker · prowler · unguarded
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- pollutedMade impure by contaminants
carcinogenic · radioactive · venomous · hazmat · biohazard · chemical · pathogenic · corrosive · asbestos · unventilated
gambling
Betting on uncertain results
- speculativeBased on conjecture
- high-stakesInvolving significant consequences
- chancyInvolving uncertain outcome
dicey · unpredictable · volatile · reckless · foolhardy · ill-advised · inadvisable · unwise · imprudent · negligent
- Danger Levelsdanger, high risk, high-risk, low risk, critical
- safety labelsdangerous, hazardous, toxic, flammable, caution
- Security Statussecure, secured, insecure, unsecured, protected
- U-wordsugly, ultimate, ultra, umbrella, unable
- Safety Termshazardous, dangerous, risky, protected, guarded
- food qualitiesripe, unripe, overripe, fresh, spoiled
unsafesafe
Free from peril
harmless · nonthreatening · unthreatening · innocuous · risk-free
unsafesound
Audible wave phenomenon
stable · reliable · secure · structurally sound · sturdy
unsafesecure
Protected from harm
safe · protected · invulnerable · defended · safeguarded
- unsafe sexIntercourse without contraception
- unsafe conditionsCircumstances posing danger