precarious

[pri-kair-ee-uhs]

adjective

1. dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; insecure.

   a precarious livelihood.

   Synonyms: indeterminate, unsure
   Antonyms: secure

2. dependent on the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another.

   He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration.

   Synonyms: undependable, unreliable, dubious, doubtful
   Antonyms: reliable

3. exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky.

   the precarious life of an underseas diver.

   Synonyms: hazardous
   Antonyms: safe

4. having insufficient, little, or no foundation.

   a precarious assumption.

   Synonyms: unfounded, baseless, groundless
   Antonyms: well-founded

precarious

/ prɪˈkɛərɪəs /

adjective

1. liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous

2. archaic,  dependent on another's will

Other Word Forms

• precariously adverb
• precariousness noun
• superprecarious adjective
• superprecariousness noun
• unprecarious adjective
• unprecariousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of precarious¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin precārius “obtained by entreaty; given as a favor; borrowed; uncertain”; prayer ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of precarious¹

C17: from Latin precārius obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from prex _prayer ¹

Synonym Study

See uncertain.

Example Sentences

He recognized the show’s precarious position when Sinclair and Nexstar bailed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Young people these days are facing a precarious job market and dimming prospects of homeownership.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“It is a very serious situation, a precarious situation,” said Naren Goenka, a member of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, an industry body.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

He said the judgment to remove or leave a tree can be precarious.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It's a startling admission - a year after winning a record six Brit Awards in a single night, Raye still worries about the precarious nature of success.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• dangerous 
• delicate 
• dicey 
• hazardous 
• insecure 
• perilous 
• problematic 
• risky 
• rocky 
• shaky 
• slippery 
• ticklish 
• touchy 
• uncertain 
• unhealthy 
• unreliable 
• unsettled 
• unstable 
• unsteady