Synonyms for precarious
prɪˈkɛər i əspre·car·i·ous

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.5 / 4 votes

1. precarious

   Uncertain is applied to things that human knowledge can not certainly determine or that human power can not certainly control; precarious originally meant dependent on the will of another, and now, by extension of meaning, dependent on chance or hazard, with manifest unfavorable possibility verging toward probability; as, one holds office by a precarious tenure, or land by a precarious title; the strong man's hold on life is uncertain, the invalid's is precarious.

   Synonyms:
   doubtful, dubious, equivocal, hazardous, insecure, perilous, risky, unassured, uncertain, unsettled, unstable, unsteady

   Antonyms:
   actual, assured, certain, firm, immutable, incontestable, infallible, real, settled, stable, steady, strong, sure, undeniable, undoubted, unquestionable

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. precarious

   Synonyms:
   hazardous, peril, ous, uncertain, riskful, unassured, insecure, dubious, doubtful

   Antonyms:
   assured, certain, systematic, safe, immutable

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. precarious, unstableadjective

   affording no ease or reassurance

   "a precarious truce"

   Synonyms:
   mentally ill, perilous, parlous, shaky, unstable, touch-and-go, unsound, fluid

   Antonyms:
   safe, secure, easy

2. parlous, perilous, precarious, touch-and-goadjective

   fraught with danger

   "dangerous waters"; "a parlous journey on stormy seas"; "a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat"; "the precarious life of an undersea diver"; "dangerous surgery followed by a touch-and-go recovery"

   Synonyms:
   parlous, perilous, touch-and-go, unstable, shaky

   Antonyms:
   easy, secure, safe

3. precarious, shakyadjective

   not secure; beset with difficulties

   "a shaky marriage"

   Synonyms:
   shivering, wobbly, trembling, perilous, parlous, rickety, shaky, wonky, unstable, touch-and-go

   Antonyms:
   secure, easy, safe

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. precariousadjective

   Synonyms:
   uncertain, unsettled, unsteady, doubtful, dubious, equivocal, insecure, not to be depended upon

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. precariousadjective

   Synonyms:
   uncertain, insecure, unassured, doubtful

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "precarious":

   insecure, fragile, uncertain, unstable, tenuous, volatile, shaky, unsafe, uneasy, poor, delicate, weak, dangerous, substandard, perilous

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How to use precarious in a sentence?

1. Marc Goldwein:

   It's not gigantic, in a normal inflation environment, it wouldn't be a big deal. But we're in a very precarious situation right now and at risk of inflation spiraling out of control.

2. One FUNAI worker on strike:

   We travel in precarious boats, without equipment such as a radio or satellite phones.

3. Syed Jaffar Hussain:

   By the 30th of June, the funding will be completely exhausted, if money is not available the health situation will become extremely precarious.

4. The Cambridge professor:

   We need to employ effective management in all areas of its development, we stand on a threshold of a brave new world. It is an exciting, if precarious place to be and you are the pioneers.

5. Mark Lattimer:

   The sheer number of displaced people means the country continues to face a humanitarian crisis... many of them are in a difficult and precarious situation.