playing with fire

ADJECTIVE

imprudent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

careless foolhardy foolish ill-advised ill-considered irresponsible reckless thoughtless unwise

WEAK

brash heedless ill-judged impolitic improvident incautious inconsiderate indiscreet inexpedient injudicious leaving self wide open off the deep end overhasty rash temerarious unadvisable unthinking

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attentive careful cautious kind mindful prudent responsible sensible thoughtful wise

WEAK

discreet

ADJECTIVE

incautious

Synonyms

WEAK

any old way bold brash careless caught napping devil-may-care fast-and-loose foot-in-mouth hasty heedless hotheaded ill-advised ill-judged impetuous improvident imprudent impulsive inconsiderate indiscreet injudicious madcap neglectful negligent off guard pay no mind precipitate rash reckless regardless sticking one's neck out thoughtless unalert unguarded unmindful unthinking unvigilant unwatchful wary wide open

Antonyms

WEAK

careful cautious discreet thoughtful

ADJECTIVE

perilous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delicate dicey hazardous precarious risky rugged shaky threatening ticklish touchy treacherous uncertain unstable

WEAK

Russian roulette chancy dynamite exposed hairy insecure loaded on thin ice touch and go unhealthy unsafe unsound unsteady unsure vulnerable wicked

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm certain definite easy firm nice safe secure stable steady strong sure

WEAK

ADJECTIVE

reckless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

audacious brash carefree careless daring foolhardy hasty ill-advised imprudent negligent thoughtless

WEAK

adventuresome adventurous any which way breakneck daredevil desperate devil-may-care fast and loose feckless harebrained headlong heedless helter-skelter hopeless hotheaded inattentive incautious inconsiderate indiscreet kooky madcap mindless overventuresome precipitate rash regardless temerarious uncareful venturesome venturous wild

Antonyms

STRONGEST

afraid attentive careful cautious discreet fearful kind meek mindful prudent reserved shy thoughtful timid wise

WEAK

responsible wary

ADJECTIVE

risky

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delicate dicey hazardous perilous precarious sensitive speculative treacherous tricky uncertain unhealthy unsafe unsound

WEAK

chancy endangered fraught with danger going for broke hairy hanging by a thread iffy insecure jeopardous long shot not a prayer off the deep end on slippery ground on thin ice on-the-spot out on a limb rocky ticklish touch-and-go touchy venturesome wicked wide-open

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite harmless healthy honest insensitive protected safe secure stable strong sure well

WEAK

assured

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Colossal’s approach to communicating its work with what I termed last year “unsparing razzmatazz” is playing with fire.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

It’s playing with fire, and the common people will not be unscathed.

From Slate • May 15, 2026

“By waiting, we are playing with fire, and the risk is that in a year’s time the RBA will need to hike even harder.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

"We're sort of playing with fire by not bringing anyone in but the flip side of that is the club is trying to change that situation," said boss Ange Postecoglou.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2025

And, incidentally, he was playing with fire again, helping an intruder to escape undetected from his father’s house.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler

playing with fire

Example Sentences

Related Words