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
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
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
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
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
-
Reading back over her sister’s occasionally gossipy letters, maybe Cassie thought those qualities were just too dangerous to reveal publicly.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The album calls out what Young sees as dangerous overreach by corporate interests into food systems and public health.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Amid the economic instability and mass layoffs in the country, the American workforce is fed up with worrying on a daily basis about losing their jobs.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
With the current economic and global instability continuing to rock industries across the United States, the hospitality sector’s customer expectations have also evolved.—
Xandra Harbet,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The match ended when Heyman turned on both Punk and Reigns with a pair of treacherous low blows on each.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
-
In February, Star residents and City Council members clashed over competing needs for a new school and improvements to a treacherous road, with the school proposal winning out.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Most cryptocurrency education is either overly basic or intended to encourage new investors to make risky trades without a clear plan.—
Kody Boye,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
-
This shift has become more apparent over the last two years, as some venture capital investors have moved their focus from riskier early-stage startups to later-stage companies that are more established, according to insiders.—
Ernestine Siu,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The name was recently added to CNBC Pro’s All-Weather Stock List, as some analysts have pointed to its resilience amid the uncertain macro environment.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2025
-
This news left fans uncertain of what was to come due to financial accessibility and FloTrack's niche nature.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Allowed to crumble into disrepair by its owners, the Meruelo family, the famous hotel was ordered demolished by the city as a hazardous structure.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Although with the right tools, tough jobs can be a lot easier, faster, and even less hazardous in the case of sharp tools.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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