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

The movie star remains poised, though precariously, to remain the one thing not replicable by generative AI—despite the best efforts of projects like AI-production company Particle6’s Tilly Norwood. —Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

Shine a light on your living room and create a home for your remote and evening cocktail without needing to precariously balance everything on your couch cushions, or worse, the floor. —Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 27 Feb. 2026

Presently though precariously in a playoff position, four key factors could determine whether the Ducks can make their first postseason appearance since 2018. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026

Everywhere, tree limbs dangled precariously. —Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for precariously

• hilariously
• vicariously
• variously