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
Imagining the tax-free windfall for workers, will employers drop base wages and will customers decrease tips, making workers’ lives more precarious and more beholden to abusive customers?
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 July 2025
But the network’s parent company has been in a precarious position since Trump retook office.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
The Dolphins were always in a precarious situation with the trade once general manager Chris Grier revealed that the team was shopping Ramsey in April.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
West Ham’s hierarchy often jettison managers when their Premier League status becomes precarious.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Preston Fore, Fortune, 2 July 2025
But the network’s parent company has been in a precarious position since Trump retook office.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 June 2025
The Dolphins were always in a precarious situation with the trade once general manager Chris Grier revealed that the team was shopping Ramsey in April.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025
West Ham’s hierarchy often jettison managers when their Premier League status becomes precarious.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for precarious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious
Adjective
-
Don’t forget the sunscreen Looking toward the rest of that sun protection, a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 will often be sufficient to protect your skin from dangerous UV radiation.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 July 2025
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Other symptoms can include itching, swelling, and a throbbing pain that radiates up the affected limb, according to Cleveland Clinic. Types Of Jellyfish To Look Out For According to Coffey, the U.S. is home to more than 9,000 species of jellyfish, and only about 100 are considered dangerous.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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At least three people were killed in the treacherous flood waters streaming through a mountain village in New Mexico, which also knocked an entire home from its foundations and then swept it away.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
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The search has been complicated by treacherous terrain, and the fact that crews are looking for an Army veteran skilled in wilderness survival who had a three-day head start.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Voyager is a risky but fruitful investment into a huge growth market, according to many analysts, who are counting on the company’s Starlab commercial space station as the ultimate upside opportunity for the firm.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
7 July 2025
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This represents a highly unorthodox and potentially risky approach to trade.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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This enormous — and uncertain — data center growth should not be Maryland’s responsibility.—
David S. Lapp,
Baltimore Sun,
7 July 2025
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According to a survey conducted for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, more than 70% of Americans have felt either cautious or uncertain about their financial situation over the past 12 months.—
Corina Vanek,
AZCentral.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for hazardous conditions.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
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Some have also reported hazardous biking conditions due to traffic.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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