Precarious
adjective
Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.
A precarious ladder
Often appears as...
- precarious situation
- precarious balance
adjective
Dependent on chance; uncertain.
She made a precarious living by writing.
Often appears as...
- precarious existence
- precarious future
adjective
Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.
A precarious ladder
Often appears as...
- precarious situation
- precarious balance
adjective
Dependent on chance; uncertain.
She made a precarious living by writing.
Often appears as...
- precarious existence
- precarious future
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Physically Unstable
Describes objects that might literally fall or collapse.
The bookshelf is precarious; it wobbles whenever touched.
Pro Tip 2/3Risky Situations
Often used for situations that can quickly become dangerous or problematic.
Crossing the river during the flood is precarious.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Can describe situations that are unstable but not physically, like a relationship.
Their reconciliation is precarious and could end at the smallest disagreement.
Pro Tip 1/3Physically Unstable
Describes objects that might literally fall or collapse.
The bookshelf is precarious; it wobbles whenever touched.
Pro Tip 2/3Risky Situations
Often used for situations that can quickly become dangerous or problematic.
Crossing the river during the flood is precarious.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Can describe situations that are unstable but not physically, like a relationship.
Their reconciliation is precarious and could end at the smallest disagreement.
Pro Tip 1/3Physically Unstable
Describes objects that might literally fall or collapse.
The bookshelf is precarious; it wobbles whenever touched.
Pro Tip 2/3Risky Situations
Often used for situations that can quickly become dangerous or problematic.
Crossing the river during the flood is precarious.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Use
Can describe situations that are unstable but not physically, like a relationship.
Their reconciliation is precarious and could end at the smallest disagreement.
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Video examples
How to find work you...
you show yourself you can run a mile or two, or a marathon, or lose five pounds, or whatever it is, you realize that confidence compounds and can be transferred into the rest of your world. And I've actually gotten into the habit of this a little bit with my friends. We have this little group. We go on physical adventures, and recently, I found myself in a kind of precarious spot.
Video examples
The nightmare videos of...
He said they'd have humans doing it. And what that really means is, instead of having toddlers being the first person to see this stuff, you're going to have underpaid, precarious contract workers without proper mental health support being damaged by it as well. And I think we can all do quite a lot better than that.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 249 PIPE...
got you it had to be you know one of them that would arrive is that in female that's darling it looks like a that's arriving now but and I represent sure through all those branches is it might be you can see she's just below us at the moment so we kind of parked in a very precarious spot in many respects
Video examples
Handraising Twin Tiger...
This little chap was the first one born. He was the one that, for the first couple of hours, we were a little worried about. He had a bit of a tougher time. Didn't you? You're doing well. He's nearly the same weight as his brother now. Despite their good health, life for young tigers is precarious.
Video examples
Adorable Tiger Cub...
couple of hours we were a little worried about he had a bit of a tougher time didn't you you're doing well he's nearly the same weight as his brother now despite their good health life for young tigers is precarious globally over a third of captive-born sumatran cubs won't make it to adulthood
Video examples
Mother Tiger Learns to...
forgotten as long as the Cubs call their mother is compelled to keep retrieving them but this would try any mother's patience the young Cubs life is very precarious had the mother been away hunting at a moment like this the outcome could have been very different
Video examples
Why should you read...
Along the way, it asks important questions about ambition, power, and violence that spoke directly to the politics of Shakespeare's time and continue to echo in our own. England in the early 17th century was politically precarious.
Video examples
5 Amazing Animal...
forgotten as long as the Cubs call their mother is compelled to keep retrieving them but this would try any mother's patience the young Cubs life is very precarious had the mother been away
Video examples
Penguins Huddle To Keep...
they've caught it and mated and the eggs are laid one per bear the mothers won't root it though the father will and one of the most precarious parts of the whole process is the handover
Video examples
Most Soothing Sir David...
The young Cubs life is very precarious. Had the mother been away hunting at a moment like this, the outcome could have been very different.
Video examples
How to find work you...
you show yourself you can run a mile or two, or a marathon, or lose five pounds, or whatever it is, you realize that confidence compounds and can be transferred into the rest of your world. And I've actually gotten into the habit of this a little bit with my friends. We have this little group. We go on physical adventures, and recently, I found myself in a kind of precarious spot.
Video examples
The nightmare videos of...
He said they'd have humans doing it. And what that really means is, instead of having toddlers being the first person to see this stuff, you're going to have underpaid, precarious contract workers without proper mental health support being damaged by it as well. And I think we can all do quite a lot better than that.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 249 PIPE...
got you it had to be you know one of them that would arrive is that in female that's darling it looks like a that's arriving now but and I represent sure through all those branches is it might be you can see she's just below us at the moment so we kind of parked in a very precarious spot in many respects
Video examples
Handraising Twin Tiger...
This little chap was the first one born. He was the one that, for the first couple of hours, we were a little worried about. He had a bit of a tougher time. Didn't you? You're doing well. He's nearly the same weight as his brother now. Despite their good health, life for young tigers is precarious.
Video examples
Adorable Tiger Cub...
couple of hours we were a little worried about he had a bit of a tougher time didn't you you're doing well he's nearly the same weight as his brother now despite their good health life for young tigers is precarious globally over a third of captive-born sumatran cubs won't make it to adulthood
Video examples
Mother Tiger Learns to...
forgotten as long as the Cubs call their mother is compelled to keep retrieving them but this would try any mother's patience the young Cubs life is very precarious had the mother been away hunting at a moment like this the outcome could have been very different
Video examples
Why should you read...
Along the way, it asks important questions about ambition, power, and violence that spoke directly to the politics of Shakespeare's time and continue to echo in our own. England in the early 17th century was politically precarious.
Video examples
5 Amazing Animal...
forgotten as long as the Cubs call their mother is compelled to keep retrieving them but this would try any mother's patience the young Cubs life is very precarious had the mother been away
Video examples
Penguins Huddle To Keep...
they've caught it and mated and the eggs are laid one per bear the mothers won't root it though the father will and one of the most precarious parts of the whole process is the handover
Video examples
Most Soothing Sir David...
The young Cubs life is very precarious. Had the mother been away hunting at a moment like this, the outcome could have been very different.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Julianna Baggott
Novelist
I'm not the kind of writer who's able to block out the world around me. I'm mindful of our own haves and have-nots, how our culture often blames and punishes the have-nots. I worry about our precarious economic and political climate.
Quote examples
Sarah Lancashire
British Actress
I won't say I'll never go back to a soap because an actor's life is so precarious. You can have the most wonderful patch where everyone wants to work with you, and in the blink of an eye the phone won't ring for a month, even a year.
Quote examples
Richard N. Haass
American Diplomat
The political world is defined by relationships rather than transactions, and by numerous actors at home and abroad with independent power. Navigating such a world is difficult and precarious.
Quote examples
Glennon Doyle Melton
American Author
The fact that we define ourselves by our roles can be an admirable thing - it's how we build a life and make a living. But it's also precarious. Roles change. Sometimes overnight.
Quote examples
Jerry Hall
American Model
The world's my oyster. But it worries me, all this showing off about being happy. Life is so precarious, and I know terrible things can happen. At the moment, everything is happy.
Quote examples
Robert Krulwich
American Journalist
Cezanne produced precarious little worlds that almost, almost, almost lose their balance but somehow hold themselves together, creating tension, beauty and danger all at once.
Quote examples
Sidney Sheldon
American Novelist
What I do is put my characters into situations that are so precarious there is no way to get out. And then I figure how to get them out.
Quote examples
Jane Addams
American Activist
The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.
Quote examples
Todd Haynes
American Director
I'm used to always having struggles getting finances together and keeping precarious budgets alive in the independent film world.
Quote examples
Simon Newcomb
Canadian Mathematician
My father followed, during most of his life, the precarious occupation of a country school teacher.
Quote examples
Julianna Baggott
Novelist
I'm not the kind of writer who's able to block out the world around me. I'm mindful of our own haves and have-nots, how our culture often blames and punishes the have-nots. I worry about our precarious economic and political climate.
Quote examples
Sarah Lancashire
British Actress
I won't say I'll never go back to a soap because an actor's life is so precarious. You can have the most wonderful patch where everyone wants to work with you, and in the blink of an eye the phone won't ring for a month, even a year.
Quote examples
Richard N. Haass
American Diplomat
The political world is defined by relationships rather than transactions, and by numerous actors at home and abroad with independent power. Navigating such a world is difficult and precarious.
Quote examples
Glennon Doyle Melton
American Author
The fact that we define ourselves by our roles can be an admirable thing - it's how we build a life and make a living. But it's also precarious. Roles change. Sometimes overnight.
Quote examples
Jerry Hall
American Model
The world's my oyster. But it worries me, all this showing off about being happy. Life is so precarious, and I know terrible things can happen. At the moment, everything is happy.
Quote examples
Robert Krulwich
American Journalist
Cezanne produced precarious little worlds that almost, almost, almost lose their balance but somehow hold themselves together, creating tension, beauty and danger all at once.
Quote examples
Sidney Sheldon
American Novelist
What I do is put my characters into situations that are so precarious there is no way to get out. And then I figure how to get them out.
Quote examples
Jane Addams
American Activist
The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.
Quote examples
Todd Haynes
American Director
I'm used to always having struggles getting finances together and keeping precarious budgets alive in the independent film world.
Quote examples
Simon Newcomb
Canadian Mathematician
My father followed, during most of his life, the precarious occupation of a country school teacher.
Example 1 of 10
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