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.
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Recent Examples of precarious
What Happens Next As the workforce evolves and the traditional 9 to 5 fades, Gen Z is facing a precarious job market, Thompson said.
—
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Born out of wedlock to a celebrated general, Hedda’s father has left her with only his opulent, Chekhovian gun collection and a precarious foothold in high society.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
The federal workers responsible for keeping air travelers safe are in a precarious position nearly a month into the government shutdown.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The timing of any subsidy deal reached by Congress is most precarious, though, for the roughly 135,000 Idahoans enrolled in ACA coverage.
—ABC News, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Born out of wedlock to a celebrated general, Hedda’s father has left her with only his opulent, Chekhovian gun collection and a precarious foothold in high society.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
The federal workers responsible for keeping air travelers safe are in a precarious position nearly a month into the government shutdown.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
The timing of any subsidy deal reached by Congress is most precarious, though, for the roughly 135,000 Idahoans enrolled in ACA coverage.
—ABC News, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
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Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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This connection would become increasingly important over the twentieth century, as the rapid development of technological infrastructure created ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous sensitivities to geomagnetic storms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Prince Harry and members of the House of Saud have opted to circumvent the potentially treacherous waters of the Southern Ocean, altogether.—
Brad Japhe,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Oct. 2025
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In addition to some light-hearted banter between Thia and Dek, the trailer gives viewers a look at the treacherous journey ahead of them.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That cash hoard provides a substantial downside cushion, and consequently makes selling downside puts a less risky affair.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
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Scientists have warned that relying on solar geoengineering would be incredibly risky for humanity.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Akheem Mesidor’s status uncertain Those wanting to know more about Hurricanes edge rusher Akheem Mesidor’s status for Saturday’s game against Stanford will have to wait a little bit longer.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
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Major deals now feature 20-30 year funding horizons—extraordinary bets on technologies whose commercial viability five years from now remains uncertain.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Because the vapors are hazardous, scattering moth balls around your closet is always unsafe.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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In several messages, officials cautioned that high-profile vehicles could face difficulty on roadways, and travel may be hazardous.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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