Synonyms of precarious

precarious

adjective

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dangerous
• treacherous
• risky
• uncertain
• hazardous
• serious
• perilous
• menacing
• unsafe
• threatening
• insecure
• ill
• dicey
• unhealthy
• parlous
• grave
• dire
• bad
• haphazard
• venturesome
• unpleasant
• distressing
• grievous
• random
• jeopardizing
• chance
• sickening
• detrimental
• ugly
• adverse
• ultrahazardous
• injurious
• fell
• harmful
• destructive
• pernicious
• deleterious
• wicked
• lethal
• malignant
• inimical
• fatal
• deadly
• noxious
• hurtful
• mortal
• baneful
• evil
• fateful
• murderous
• baleful
• killer
• deathly
• nasty
• pestilent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advantageous
• good
• beneficial
• safe
• innocuous
• harmless
• innocent
• nonhazardous
• nonthreatening
• ultrasafe
• unthreatening

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

Recent Examples of precarious

Court injunctions and legal actions have momentarily left those directives up in the air, but federal funds now seem particularly precarious. —Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2025

Entering the United States has become more precarious since the start of the second Trump administration in January. —Lily Hay Newman, Wired News, 21 Apr. 2025

But even without that devastating emergency, there are other signs that the city has entered a precarious period. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025

In terms of passing lane defense, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. are arguably the most talented collective in the NBA and should be able to put the Clippers in several precarious positions. —Kelly Iko, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

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