Definition of precariousnessnext
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

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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 precariousness But an Iranian diplomat promptly rejected this, saying such a visit can only come after a final deal — a denial that highlighted the precariousness of the ongoing negotiations. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 But the Damascene realization regarding the precariousness of American manufacturing that followed spurred a flurry of activity in Washington—as well as among nations that balked at an authoritarian superpower effectively having a permanent kill switch over their industrial output. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 21 Apr. 2026 The precariousness of Hollywood has always been at the heart of The Comeback. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 20 Mar. 2026 Ultimately, the biggest cause for fear in our household was not regional instability but the precariousness of expatriate life itself. — Omnia Al Desoukie, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precariousness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precariousness
instability
Noun
  • Polish President Karol Nawrocki is focusing on negotiations with the United States over troop placement in his country, seeking the reassurance of an ally’s presence amid unprecedented instability and opposition from technocrats in Brussels.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Increasing Gulf moisture and instability across portions of Northwest Texas are creating an environment favorable for strong to severe storms.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Precariousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precariousness. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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