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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precarious
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 29 May 2025
At the very least, the Trump administration is making beekeepers’ jobs more complicated at a precarious moment.
—Joanna Thompson, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
However, the precariousness of their existence was clear.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Adjective
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a precarious position this offseason.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 29 May 2025
At the very least, the Trump administration is making beekeepers’ jobs more complicated at a precarious moment.
—Joanna Thompson, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
Noun
Because this clever, funny play is both an attentive ode to Greenspan’s extraordinary artistry as a playwright-performer and an unsparing meditation on the psychic and financial precariousness of playwriting as a creative life.
—Laura Collins-Hughes, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
However, the precariousness of their existence was clear.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
-
At times, the Algerian even operated as a wide forward as O’Neil grappled with a forward injury crisis and identified Ait-Nouri as his most dangerous attacking threat.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
An emergency room doctor explains why opioids are so dangerous. 2️⃣ ‘Absolute sh*tshow’: NASA scientists are in limbo after the Trump administration proposed eliminating the Goddard Institute for Space Studies.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
LTOs offer a moment of joy, control, and relevance in a time of rising costs and systemic instability.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
At the same time, France was experiencing extreme instability in its domestic politics.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Neshaminy Creek, placid in calm weather, turns treacherous after heavy rains, such as those that fell on Bucks County in the days before his accident.—
JD Mullane,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
-
The savvy financial advisor Rick Kahler, president of Kahler Financial Group in Rapid City, S.D., tells us how to navigate this treacherous path.—
Larry Light,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Not mentioned in the CIT decision—and likely riskier—is section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.—
Jill Goldenziel,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
But scoring just one run as the road team in extras is always risky, and the Red Sox got burned again when Lexington’s Sal Frelick (4 for 5) beat Justin Slaten to the first base bag for an infield single to lead off the bottom of the 10th.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
His departure marks the second shortest time any actor has spent as the Doctor — logging in just one more season than Christopher Eccleston — and certainly leaves the future of the iconic British show uncertain.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
31 May 2025
-
Though Bonnie had experience with bottle babies, this kitten's fragile condition made survival uncertain.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Other parts of the southeastern US could see hazardous weather Friday afternoon and evening.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2025
-
However, a small portion of them, known as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), do require close monitoring.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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