precarious

Synonym Chooser

How is the word precarious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of precarious are dangerous, hazardous, perilous, and risky. While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

Where would dangerous be a reasonable alternative to precarious?

While in some cases nearly identical to precarious, dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

When is hazardous a more appropriate choice than precarious?

The words hazardous and precarious can be used in similar contexts, but hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When is it sensible to use perilous instead of precarious?

The synonyms perilous and precarious are sometimes interchangeable, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

In what contexts can risky take the place of precarious?

While the synonyms risky and precarious are close in meaning, risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precarious Imagining the tax-free windfall for workers, will employers drop base wages and will customers decrease tips, making workers’ lives more precarious and more beholden to abusive customers? Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 July 2025 But the network’s parent company has been in a precarious position since Trump retook office. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 June 2025 The Dolphins were always in a precarious situation with the trade once general manager Chris Grier revealed that the team was shopping Ramsey in April. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025 West Ham’s hierarchy often jettison managers when their Premier League status becomes precarious. Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
  • After landing, the most dangerous times, statistically speaking, are takeoff, approach, and initial climb.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025
  • And the Santa Barbara temblor revealed just how dangerous brick buildings built in that era could be.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • And yes, much of it involves harrowing drives on treacherous mountain roads, only a few of which — disappointingly, considering the title — are icy.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2025
  • But only three of those runs were earned, and three of the hits were pop flies missed due to treacherous winds at Wrigley.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • Much of this inventory is now sitting idle on the market, as buyers steer away from a likely risky investment.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
  • Voyager is a risky but fruitful investment into a huge growth market, according to many analysts, who are counting on the company’s Starlab commercial space station as the ultimate upside opportunity for the firm.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • According to a survey conducted for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, more than 70% of Americans have felt either cautious or uncertain about their financial situation over the past 12 months.
    Corina Vanek, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025
  • This enormous — and uncertain — data center growth should not be Maryland’s responsibility.
    David S. Lapp, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2025
Adjective
  • By taking on hazardous or monotonous jobs, AEON allows human workers to focus on higher-value activities, helping companies remain competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2025
  • Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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