SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
precarious
adjective
Unstable, insecure, or exposed to danger or failure.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
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Unstable or insecure
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA precarious position lacks firm support or assurance. Vulnerable emphasizes exposure to harm rather than instability itself.
Dangerously uncertain
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topTouch-and-go suggests an uncertain outcome, often with a narrow margin of safety. Perilous stresses danger more strongly than simple uncertainty.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See precarious in use
The stack of books rested in a precarious position at the edge of the desk.
A theater group planned a weekend performance in a borrowed courtyard. Its position was precarious because permission depended on a renovation finishing in time.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license