precarious

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /prɪˈkɛriəs/ UK /prɪˈkɛəriəs/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
dangerously uncertain or insecure

The climbers found themselves in a precarious position.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · dangerously uncertain or... unstable insecure unsafe perilous uncertain shaky tenuous

Opposites

secure stable safe certain

Word family

Forms precariouslyprecariousness

Derived forms precariouslyprecariousness

Related forms prayerprecation

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

precarious truce
an agreement to stop fighting that is insecure and may soon fail

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Precarious comes from Latin precarius, “obtained by entreaty,” based on prex or prec-, “prayer.” Something granted at another person’s pleasure was dependent on that person’s goodwill and therefore uncertain, producing the modern sense.

Etymology

From Latin precarius ('obtained by prayer, dependent on the will of another'), from precari ('to pray, beg'), from prex ('prayer, request').

precarius Latin precari Latin prex Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# precarious

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /prɪˈkɛriəs/
**IPA (UK):** /prɪˈkɛəriəs/

## Meanings
1. dangerously uncertain or insecure

## Examples
- The climbers found themselves in a precarious position.

## Synonyms
- unstable
- insecure
- unsafe
- perilous
- uncertain
- shaky
- tenuous

## Antonyms
- secure
- stable
- safe
- certain

## Derived Forms
- precariously
- precariousness

## Related Forms
- prayer
- precation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: precarius
- Root: precari
- Root: prex

## Etymology
From Latin precarius ('obtained by prayer, dependent on the will of another'), from precari ('to pray, beg'), from prex ('prayer, request').

## AI Etymology
Precarious is from Latin precarius ('obtained by prayer, dependent on the will of another'), from precari ('to pray, beg'), from prex ('prayer, request'). In present-day use, it means dangerously uncertain or insecure. Derived formations include precariously and precariousness. Related vocabulary includes prayer and precation.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

markdown