precarious

/prɪˈkɛəriəs/ Formal

Say it: prih-KAIR-ee-us

1. adjective Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.
He climbed the precarious ladder to get the cat down from the roof.
2. adjective Dependent on chance or unknown conditions; uncertain and insecure.
She earned a precarious living by selling her paintings on the street.
3. adjective Involving risk or danger.
The fragile peace agreement between the two nations remains precarious.

📖 Seen in the wild

The climber found himself in a precarious position on the narrow ledge.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ precarious in a sentence

The climber found a precarious foothold on the sheer rock face.
After the main witness recanted, the prosecutor's case became precarious.
Many gig economy workers face a precarious future with no benefits or job security.
The vase was in a precarious position on the edge of the wobbly table.
They navigated the company through a precarious period of economic downturn.
The old rope bridge swayed precariously over the deep canyon.
His control over the party was precarious, threatened by a faction of young reformers.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

unstable insecure uncertain risky shaky perilous treacherous unsteady

unstable · focuses more on the lack of physical or emotional firmness, whereas precarious emphasizes the immediate danger of collapse.

insecure · often relates to financial situations or emotional states, while precarious has a broader sense of physical or situational danger.

uncertain · is a general term for doubt, but precarious specifically implies a high risk of a negative outcome.

risky · highlights the possibility of loss or harm, which is very similar, but precarious often adds a stronger sense of instability.

Opposites: stable, secure, safe, certain, firm

🌱 Where it comes from

The word's origin is a prayer for help. It comes from the Latin 'precarius,' meaning 'obtained by prayer or entreaty,' which itself derives from 'prex' (prayer). The meaning evolved from 'dependent on the favor of another' to 'dependent on chance,' and finally to the modern sense of 'dangerously uncertain.'

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

precarious positionprecarious balanceprecarious situationprecarious livingprecarious foothold

Precarious is a strong word that implies significant risk and instability; avoid using it for minor uncertainties. It is more at home in formal or literary writing than in casual conversation. A common mistake is confusing it with 'precautionary,' which means 'done as a precaution' (e.g., a precautionary measure).

Word family: precariously, precariousness

💬 Quick answers

What does precarious mean?

Precarious describes something that is dangerously unstable, uncertain, or likely to collapse or fail, whether it's a physical object or a situation.

What is the difference between precarious and unstable?

While both mean not firm, 'precarious' adds a strong sense of immediate danger or risk. A wobbly table is unstable, but if it's holding a priceless artifact, its position is precarious.

Is precarious a formal word?

Yes, it is generally considered a formal or literary word. In casual conversation, people are more likely to use words like 'shaky,' 'risky,' or 'unsteady'.

What is the noun for precarious?

The noun form is 'precariousness,' which refers to the state of being insecure or unstable.

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