as in dangerous
not safe, strong, or steady
He earned a precarious livelihood by gambling. She was in a state of precarious health. The government is in a precarious position. The strong wind almost knocked him off of his precarious perch on the edge of the cliff.
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
as in instability
the quality or state of not being firmly fixed in position
she quickly moved the china teapot after noticing its precariousness on the shelf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precarious
Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The fire department in Mackinac Island rushed to the scene after receiving a call of a man in a precarious situation after doing something that was prohibited.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 1 Sep. 2025
Jamie Rowen, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
But instead of recognizing the precariousness of his position, Netanyahu abandoned his characteristic caution, put his faith in Trump without a fallback, and is now left with nowhere else to turn.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Adjective
From there, migrants pay between $260 and $280 to ride on precarious boats packed with people back to Colombia.
—Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The fire department in Mackinac Island rushed to the scene after receiving a call of a man in a precarious situation after doing something that was prohibited.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
Given the federal government’s financial precariousness at the end of the war, this effort failed.
—Jamie Rowen, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
But instead of recognizing the precariousness of his position, Netanyahu abandoned his characteristic caution, put his faith in Trump without a fallback, and is now left with nowhere else to turn.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
-
The illness prevents her body from producing platelets, leaving her at constant risk of dangerous bleeding.—
Liz Neporent,
ABC News,
26 Aug. 2025
-
But that wasn't the most dangerous thing that happened to me.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There’s political instability in a lot of places in the world right now with tension.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Advertisement Still, the election of a new premier, for now, may end a period of instability for Thailand and gives Anutin the chance to prove his leadership.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The green itself has seven tiers, and missing long leaves a treacherous recovery from well below the surface.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Over the course of the novel, Agu undergoes a treacherous coming of age, shedding his former identity as a bookish boy and entering into a manhood marked by extraordinary violence, abuse and horror.—
Katie Kitamura
August 21,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Poonen said the combination, which brought together his fast-growing but unprofitable firm with the larger, highly profitable Veritas, was a risky but calculated deal.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Physical Health Risks A direct line has been drawn between this kind of masculinity content and risky behaviors.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With the state’s version of a grocery tax set to expire soon, whether Lake Bluff will join many of its neighboring communities in adopting its own version of the tax is uncertain following a recent discussion of the village board’s finance committee.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
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In addition, the stock is defensive in an uncertain macroeconomic environment.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Staff often wear hazmat suits due to hazardous conditions.—
Meg Dunn,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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