English Dictionary
Definition of “precarious”
precarious (prɪˈkɛərɪəs
)
Definitions
adjective
- liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous
- archaic dependent on another's will
Alternative Forms
preˈcariously adverb preˈcariousness noun Word Origin
C17: from Latin precārius obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from prexprayerC17: from Latin obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from 1
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
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insecure,
dangerous,
uncertain,
tricky,
risky,
doubtful,
dubious,
unsettled,
dodgy,
unstable,
unsure,
hazardous,
shaky,
hairy,
perilous,
touch and go,
dicey,
chancy,
built on sand
shonky,
Usage examples
They have too many children as it is, and fishing's a precarious livelihood.
Gaskin, Catherine, The Ambassador's Women (1986)But this does appear to be a very precarious time for across-the-board hike in taxes.
Business Today (1999)The future of the helicopter operation, which carries critically ill adults, remains precarious.
New Zealand Herald (2003)This makes a popular uprising against the military even more of an option and Pakistan's position even more precarious.
Glasgow Herald (2001)He was a frail youth whose precarious physical state made regular schooling difficult.
Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)
