Definitions

precarious

[pri-kair-ee-uhs] / prɪˈkɛər i əs /

ADJECTIVE

tricky, doubtful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

WEAK

ambiguous borderline chancy contingent dubious dynamite equivocal hairy hanging by a thread iffy impugnable indecisive loaded on thin ice open out on a limb rugged sensitive touch and go unsafe unsure

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite guarded happy healthy protected reliable safe secure settled stable steady strong sure

WEAK

firm undoubted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"What makes my American dream precarious is that the city is extremely expensive and visas are highly unstable," he said.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

LNG exporters are in a more precarious, though uneven, position.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

Fraser’s explosive performance underlines the immensity of the stakes, balancing every precarious element of this enormous mission.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

It leaves the Frenchman in a precarious position and unable to stay at the club that he said he truly wanted to stay at.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Their quarry was long gone, but the reminder of the slave patrols exposed the precarious nature of the residents’ lives.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Vocabulary lists containing precarious

Grade 11, List 3

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A Doll's House

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John F. Kennedy's Address to the American People on the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

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