PRECARIOUS Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'precarious' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of precarious are dangerous , hazardous , perilous , and risky . While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty. // earned a precarious living by gambling

Q: Where would 'dangerous' be a reasonable alternative to 'precarious'?

While in some cases nearly identical to precarious , dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully. // soldiers on a dangerous mission

Q: When is 'hazardous' a more appropriate choice than 'precarious'?

The words hazardous and precarious can be used in similar contexts, but hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure. // claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

Q: When is it sensible to use 'perilous' instead of 'precarious'?

The synonyms perilous and precarious are sometimes interchangeable, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger. // perilous mountain roads

Q: In what contexts can 'risky' take the place of 'precarious'?

While the synonyms risky and precarious are close in meaning, risky often applies to a known and accepted danger. // shied away from risky investments

precarious

adjective

Definition of precarious

as in dangerous

not safe, strong, or steady He earned a precarious livelihood by gambling. She was in a state of precarious health. The government is in a precarious position. The strong wind almost knocked him off of his precarious perch on the edge of the cliff.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word precarious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of precarious are dangerous, hazardous, perilous, and risky. While all these words mean "bringing or involving the chance of loss or injury," precarious suggests both insecurity and uncertainty.

earned a precarious living by gambling

Where would dangerous be a reasonable alternative to precarious?

While in some cases nearly identical to precarious, dangerous applies to something that may cause harm or loss unless dealt with carefully.

soldiers on a dangerous mission

When is hazardous a more appropriate choice than precarious?

The words hazardous and precarious can be used in similar contexts, but hazardous implies great and continuous risk of harm or failure.

claims that smoking is hazardous to your health

When is it sensible to use perilous instead of precarious?

The synonyms perilous and precarious are sometimes interchangeable, but perilous strongly implies the immediacy of danger.

perilous mountain roads

In what contexts can risky take the place of precarious?

While the synonyms risky and precarious are close in meaning, risky often applies to a known and accepted danger.

shied away from risky investments

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of precarious None of the works address the recent bombardments directly, although the precarious context of ongoing threat, instability and struggle can be felt in almost all of them. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Largely covered by mountains and rainforests, only two precarious roads connect Choco to the rest of Colombia. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 In the exceptional heat of August, vegetable gardeners may sometimes find their soil in a precarious position. — Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 Brent Venables moves up one group, but his position is precarious. — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precarious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for precarious

Adjective

Heaping credit onto Espada is dangerous, but so is blaming him for every game that goes awry.

— Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
That’s a dangerous prospect for any country, but especially for Singapore, crammed into a space smaller than New York City.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of dangerous

Adjective

At face value, young men exercising should not be reason to sound the alarms, and yet there is something treacherous about men in their formative years placing physical beauty as the ultimate expression of self-actualization.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
Jacksonville, a city of about 1 million, is particularly treacherous for children living in areas north and west of downtown.

— Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of treacherous

Adjective

Dillman and his coconspirator used the funds to pay themselves and to make risky and speculative investments in other cryptocurrency ventures, authorities said, citing other evidence presented at the trial.

— Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
In turn, Axira proposes a risky deal — steal something from the Tournament of Hearts, a dating competition where highborn citizenship is on the line.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of risky

Adjective

What remains uncertain is how damaging the resolution will be—and for whom.

— MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
When markets are uncertain about how central bankers will respond to incoming data, speculation can fill the void, according to a Barclays report last month.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of uncertain

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Precarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precarious. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of precarious

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Precarious Is Not "Before Carious"

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of precarious

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to precarious

Precarious Is Not "Before Carious"

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes