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
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
See All Example Sentences for 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
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
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Prioritising one competition in favour of another is a dangerous game to play in any case when the stakes are so high.—
Mark Critchley,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The most immediate context for this comment is presumably both the backlash to Hogwarts Legacy and the ongoing backlash over Rowling’s views writ large regarding trans women being dangerous predators.—
Aja Romano,
Vox,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The uncertain fate of his best friend impacts Si-eun throughout the season.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
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Neutral weather conditions bring uncertain weather risks An ENSO-neutral pattern can bring drier-than-normal weather, or drought conditions could persist in certain regions.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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And like the previous trials, the intense tests served an important purpose—in this case, making sure the shields coating LIFE habitat modules will withstand any hazardous micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) impacts.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
24 Apr. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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