precariously

adverb

pre·​car·​i·​ous·​ly pri-ˈker-ē-əs-lē 

: in a precarious manner

These birds suspend their nests precariously among fine twigs …

—Michael Hansell

… the privilege of a tiny, precariously poised minority.

—Derek Bickerton

Waiters in white shirts and black vests roamed, trays balanced precariously but with utmost precision.

—Noah Charney

… it's now balancing precariously on the brink of extinction and has become the first-ever bumblebee to be declared endangered in the US.

—Laura Dennison

Examples of precariously in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Time and again, McNeely painted women balancing precariously. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

During the war, Oman allowed vessels to use its sea routes to evade the waterways precariously designated by the Revolutionary Guards. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Wheelie contests, one-on-one races and freestyle trick events filled the air with engine revs and track dirt as the drivers precariously balanced, drifted and jumped the 10,000 pound vehicles. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026

Needless to say, that would have been unwise for a city with a credit rating perched precariously just above junk status. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for precariously

• hilariously
• vicariously
• variously