precarious
[ pri-kair-ee-uhs ]
/ prɪˈkɛər i əs /
adjective
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
dependent on the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration.
exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver.
having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious assumption.
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Origin of precarious
First recorded in 1640–50, precarious is from the Latin word precārius “obtained by entreaty or mere favor” (hence uncertain). See prayer1
SYNONYMS FOR precarious
3 hazardous.
ANTONYMS FOR precarious
synonym study for precarious
1. See uncertain.
OTHER WORDS FROM precarious
Words nearby precarious
precancel, precancer, precancerous, precapillary, precariat, precarious, precarity, precartilage, precast, precatory, precaution
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for precariously
British Dictionary definitions for precariously
precarious
/ (prɪˈkɛərɪəs) /
adjective
liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous
archaic dependent on another's will
Derived forms of precarious
precariously, adverbprecariousness, nounWord Origin for precarious
C17: from Latin precārius obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from prex prayer 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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