Some situations in life are dependent on circumstances that are beyond control. When things seem uncertain or uncontrollable, to the extent of making you insecure, the situation is referred to as “precarious.” Read more to learn about precarious definition and usage to best include the word in your vocabulary.
“Precarious” is a situation or circumstances that one can’t control. Something that happens, and you have no power over it. The word “precarious” also applies in unstable, dangerous, or difficult situations that worsen. Other times the word is associated with insecurity and instability.
The word “precarious” has different meanings depending on the situation you are using it in. Therefore, it is vital to learn the various definitions and scenarios to use this word correctly. Let’s now focus more on the deeper details about this word to understand it better.
What Is the Definition of Precarious?
The most known definition of the word “precarious” is “subject to change or unknown conditions.” You can also use “precarious” to mean not safe, firm, or sturdy. The word presents a potentially dangerous situation.
At times, someone can be in a dangerous situation, yet they cannot control it. They might lack control because they are not aware of the danger, and they do not have any means to navigate the situation. So, even if you feel stranded or scared, you are not in a position to quickly get out of the problem.
Example sentences:
- Why does Mrs. Benjamin allow her husband to put her in a precarious situation?
- After talking with my accountant, I knew that I was financially precarious.
- He had a precarious dependence on drugs, which John hated passionately.
“Precarious” Synonyms and Antonyms and Their Meaning
The English language has many words that have almost similar meanings. These words are known as synonyms. It is vital to learn the various synonyms of a new word you find interesting. That way, you will better understand the word by comparing it to words with almost similar meanings.
Synonyms
- Uncertain: A situation not known for certain, questionable.
- Doubtful: Not predictable, uncertain, and unsure.
- Insecure: Not confident-filled anxieties or apprehensiveness.
- Hazardous: Risky, dangerous, in a hazardous nature.
- Dubious: In disbelief, uncertain, inclined to doubt.
- Chancy: A risky or uncertain situation.
- Unstable: An unpredictable situation.
- Rocky: Appearing in a way that can fail, discourage, or disappoint.
- Tricky: A situation that needs one to have great care.
- Perilous: Full or involving peril, dangerous or risky.
What is the main difference between precarious and other synonyms?
All the synonyms of “precarious” have near meanings “involved in the possibility of loss or injuries.” However, these words are different from “precarious” because “precarious” suggests insecurity and uncertainty.
Antonyms
- Advantageous: Creating favorable circumstances that increase the chances of effectiveness.
- Beneficial: Resulting in good, favorable, or advantageous.
- Good: The benefits of; the advantage of someone or something.
- Useful: To be desired or approved of.
- Ultra-safe: Extremely secure and unprotected.
- Harmless: Not likely or able to cause harm.
- Innocent: Not responsible or directly involved in the event of suffering and consequence.
- Innocuous: Not harmful or offensive.
- Safe: Protected from and not exposed to danger or risk.
- Actual: Existing, in fact.
- Infallible: Never failing is always effective.
Family Words of Precarious
Precariously: (Adverb) The meaning of precariously is “in a way that is not securely in position and is likely to collapse.”
Example sentences:
- The school bends precariously over the edge of the huge mountain.
- The teacher punished Maxwell during the school trip for leaning precariously over the edge of the yacht.
- The librarian was not pleased with her new assistant’s arrangement since all the books were left standing precariously, making the library look messy.
Precariousness: (Noun) The meaning of precariousness is “the state of being dangerously likely to fall or collapse.”
Example sentences:
- She felt that divorcing her husband would lead to humiliation and social precariousness.
- The discussion in the meeting was the major precariousness that the institution was facing and how the company would handle the lack of funds.
- With the situation exhibiting precariousness, she had to move to another city.
Words That Have Similar Sounds to Precarious
Some words might have the same sound but are unrelated or do not have the same meaning. Artists like poets, writers, and musicians embrace these words to make their work intriguing. Here is a list of words that sound like “precarious.”
- Malarious
- Tereus
- Various
- Hilarious
- Arius
- Stradivarius
- Chariots
- Pileups
- Curious
- Nefarious
What Is the Meaning of Precarious?
Another meaning of “precarious” is “depending on the will or the pleasure.” “Precarious” is used in a situation where a person’s well-being or outcome depends on what a certain individual or party feels. In most cases, the expected result is devastating.
Example sentences:
- They watched the match from a precarious position on a tree.
- I did not respond to her question since she already knew that my situation was precarious.
- The health of most of the fighters was precarious.
Words Related to the Word Precarious
When reading and researching the word “precarious,” you are likely to come across different phrases; it is vital to learn the terms and their meanings to use them correctly or understand what they mean. They include the following:
- Precarious work: The term precarious work refers to a type of job, employment, or service whose payment is low and insecure.
- Precarious life: The phrase precarious life means that you depend on chance or circumstances.
- Precarious nature: The phrase precarious nature means that something is not secure in place.
How to Use Precarious In a Sentence?
Before using the word “precarious” in a sentence, it is vital to understand that this word is an adjective. That means that the word is a naming attribute of a noun.
Also, keep in mind this is a word used mostly when someone or something is going through a stressful situation. You don’t have to be confused anytime you choose to use the word “precarious.” From the definitions and meanings, you can easily tell it is a negative word. This is because the word is mostly about fear or dealing with a stressful situation.
10 Examples of Precarious In a Sentence
Now that you have learned the various meanings and definitions of precarious, it is time to understand the word further by reading the various sentences with the word “precarious.” This will give you an insight into the various ways you can construct your sentences. Here is a look at ten examples of the word “precarious” in a sentence.
- I held on to the precarious tree just before it broke.
- The company is going through a precarious financial situation.
- The earlier situation was precarious, but the current one is better.
- Mary cried as she tried to deal with the precarious position.
- He has insisted on working as a painter throughout his life, even if his earnings are precarious.
- The hotel was built in a precarious location.
- Generally, I would say that the world is a precarious place.
- I dislike going to the beach during the wet weather since the path can be precarious.
- I was at the bank, and I realized that the financial position of this company is precarious.
- His parents lead an intelligent life.
How Do You Spell Precarious?
The spelling of the word “precarious” is “P.R.E.C.A.R.I.O.U.S.”
One of the common mistakes people make when writing different words is misspelling them. That’s because they have not taken the time to understand the word. But you can set yourself aside from the crowd by making sure that your vocabulary and spellings are on point.
How Do You Pronounce Precarious?
The pronunciation of the word “precarious” is “pruh.keuh.ree.uhs.”
Most people hardly ever think much about pronunciation, and yet, the way you pronounce a word impacts your communication significantly. Proper pronunciation is an effective way to make sure that the person you speak to understands what you are saying with ease.
How Many Syllables Are Precarious?
The word “precarious” has four syllables divided as pre.car.i.ous.
History & Etymology of Precarious
The word “precarious” originates from the Latin word “precarious.”
The word has various meanings in Latin. The first one is “obtained by entreaty or prayer”; the meaning of this word has nothing to do with the present English context. The other is “doubtful or uncertain.” This is the meaning often used in English.
When Was Precarious First Used?
The first use of the word “precarious” was in the 1600s.
Conclusion
The article has discussed everything you might want to know about the word precarious. Take the time to read and understand the different definitions of the word and its meaning. You should also look at the synonyms and antonyms to understand the word better. At the same time, the article takes you through the various forms of the word “precarious” and how to use the word in sentences. After knowing almost everything about this vocabulary, we would like you to keep learning more to exploit the word further.
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.