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
As Anna reports in her forthcoming book, The Double Tax, Black women are overrepresented in precarious jobs characterized by low wages, little security, and few benefits and underrepresented in the highest paying careers.
—
Marianne Cooper, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Washing a couch or sofa, professional carpet and upholstery cleaner Ben Brazell says, is more precarious than carpet cleaning because the upholstery is often a lot more expensive and much easier to damage.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
The industry is in a precarious place right now because of the contraction and the shrinking of the industry — less product, less money to go around — so that especially affects indies.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
But high perches are precarious.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Marianne Cooper, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Washing a couch or sofa, professional carpet and upholstery cleaner Ben Brazell says, is more precarious than carpet cleaning because the upholstery is often a lot more expensive and much easier to damage.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
The industry is in a precarious place right now because of the contraction and the shrinking of the industry — less product, less money to go around — so that especially affects indies.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
But high perches are precarious.
—Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
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Demonizing or attempting to eliminate those who think differently – literally or symbolically – has become a dangerous norm, which is all too evident in the wake of the Kirk shooting.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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During volatile periods, this becomes especially dangerous because customer loyalty becomes more fragile and harder to rebuild.—
Talbott Roche,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Remote and treacherous, the Northwest Passage has been transited less than 500 times in recorded history.—
Robin Catalano,
AFAR Media,
15 Sep. 2025
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Ignoring his father’s plea, Spike, upon his return home, decides to venture through the treacherous territory of the infected with his ailing mother, Isla (Jodie Comer), to see if Kelson can help cure her.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The new vaccines have only been approved for people 65 or older and young people who have other health issues that would make getting COVID especially risky.—
September 11,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
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However, these projections assume the industry can overcome its computational bottlenecks—a risky bet if compute architectures remain tethered to the past.—
Lee-Lean Shu,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In a world that is polarized, volatile, uncertain, complex and shifting all the time, your leadership can offer a beacon of both continuity and hope.—
Tracy Brower,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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That leaves uncertain whether the threats might actually lead to new tariffs or a ban on Russian oil purchases.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Try dropping these items at a local hazardous waste disposal site.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Sep. 2025
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Longshore currents can sweep swimmers and surfers into rip currents, piers, jetties, and other hazardous areas.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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