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
Despite its deathly reputation, Mount Baldy is oftentimes neither a particularly precarious mountain nor an especially treacherous trail.
—
Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
The global backlash In an age of protectionism, exports are a precarious basis for growth.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Their reception is so bad that no one else from 51 can hear them, while the stability of the elevator is precarious at best — and only getting worse.
—Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
That, in turn, can create a precarious situation where the needs for retirement security and debt relief collide.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
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Pipes and sewers can be very dangerous for pets and wildlife and Roto-Rooter, with specialized equipment and personnel, has become a go-to call to save cats, dogs, turtles and more.—
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Ole Miss has enough dangerous weapons in quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and wide receivers Harrison Wallace III, De’Zhaun Stribling and Deuce Alexander to make a tired defense pay.—
Adjective
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Snow, ice and freezing temperatures hit parts of Europe on Tuesday, causing treacherous traffic conditions that left at least five people dead in France and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights from one of the continent’s busiest airports.—
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With a combination of rain and snow in the week prior, David Motley, the city’s public relations director, said beach conditions were treacherous.—
Adjective
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The system focuses on physical interception rather than electronic warfare, addressing scenarios where jamming proves ineffective or risky.—
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Directed by Steven Lisberger, the movie leans hard into CGI at a time when that was still considered risky and experimental.—
Adjective
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At the moment, its age is still uncertain.—
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How Barton will advance his campaigns now is uncertain.—
Adjective
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Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.—
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Forecasters warn of hazardous travel conditions from icy roads and low visibility.—
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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