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
Courtesy José Alberto Gallipoli The rescue mission was precarious.
—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
But like others interviewed by the AJC, this trainee opted not to report his allegations because of his precarious employment status.
—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
25 June 2026
The Athletic has repeatedly detailed Spurs’ precarious cash position, a point only underlined when the club’s 2024-25 accounts were published in March.
—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
25 June 2026
Even Hollywood critics of the generative AI economy express sympathy for those working in this precarious field.
—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
But like others interviewed by the AJC, this trainee opted not to report his allegations because of his precarious employment status.
—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
25 June 2026
The Athletic has repeatedly detailed Spurs’ precarious cash position, a point only underlined when the club’s 2024-25 accounts were published in March.
—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
25 June 2026
Even Hollywood critics of the generative AI economy express sympathy for those working in this precarious field.
—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
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Others develop dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms because the autonomic nervous system becomes affected.
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Sometimes, the streets appear glittering; other times, seedy and dangerous.
Adjective
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The infamous cyclops briefly appeared, as well as footage of Odysseus and his men battling the cannibalistic race of giants known as Laestrygonians and navigating around the treacherous whirlpool Charybdis.
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According to the hiking blog, The Hiking HI, the rock bridge can only be traversed at low tide, but can be treacherous either way.
Adjective
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Achraf Hakimi looked to have another opportunity to take an open shot on goal in the 54th minute, until Dutch defender Micky van de Ven chased him down and made a risky tackle in the goal box.
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The groups that brought the lawsuit said the rule would require students to forgo their studies or take out riskier private loans.
Adjective
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Harvard Health has taken a critical look at Apollo Neuro, and Medscape has warned about uncertain efficacy in at-home vagus stimulation devices.
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At the edge of an uncertain frontier, the founders organized people, knowledge, and governance in a way that could survive the unknown.
Adjective
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Concrete casing and tubing – used to seal and extract oil – can lose integrity, causing leaks and potential hazardous gas releases.
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Concerns about hazardous chemicals led police to suggest residents evacuate, although many declined.
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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