precarious

UK: /prɪˈkɛəriəs/ US: /prɪˈkɛriəs/ ,(pri kâr′ē əs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•car•i•ous /prɪˈkɛriəs/   adj. 

1. dependent on circumstances that are beyond one's control;
   uncertain:
   a precarious livelihood.
2. dangerous because insecure or unsteady:
   a precarious hold on the rope.

pre•car•i•ous•ly, adv.: 

hung precariously from the top of the cable car.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•car•i•ous  (pri kâr′ē əs), adj. 

1. dependent on circumstances beyond one's control;
   uncertain;
   unstable;
   insecure:
   a precarious livelihood.
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   liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: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.
3. exposed to or involving danger;
   dangerous;
   perilous;
   risky:
   the precarious life of an underseas diver.
4. having insufficient, little, or no foundation:
   a precarious assumption.

• Latin precārius obtained by entreaty or mere favor, hence uncertain. See prayer¹
• 1640–50

pre•car′i•ous•ly, adv. 
pre•car′i•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. unsure, unsteady. See uncertain. 
• 2. doubtful, dubious, unreliable, undependable.
• 3. hazardous.
• 4. groundless, baseless, unfounded.

Antonyms

• 1. secure.
• 2. reliable.
• 3. safe.
• 4. well-founded.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

precarious / prɪˈkɛərɪəs/ adjective

1. liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous
2. dependent on another's will

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin precārius obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from prex prayer¹

preˈcariously adverb

preˈcariousness, precarity / prɪˈkærɪtɪ/ noun