What does precarious mean in the dictionary?
involving danger; dangerous; perilous
exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver. having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious assumption.
What is another word for precarious?
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.
How do you use precarious in a sentence?
How to use Precarious in a sentence
- I’m in a precarious situation here.
- Again she had allowed herself to be put in a precarious situation.
- I held onto a precarious perch just before I let go.
- It could be a financially precarious solution.
What is the origin of the word precarious?
Precarious actually comes from the Latin word precarius, which has a number of meanings. The earliest was “obtained by entreaty or prayer,” which is not part of the current meaning in English at all; and the Latin word also does mean “doubtful” or “uncertain,” like the Modern English precarious.
What is precarious situation?
Definition of ‘precarious’ precarious. (prɪkeəriəs ) Explore ‘precarious’ in the dictionary. adjective. If your situation is precarious, you are not in complete control of events and might fail in what you are doing at any moment.
What is an example of precarious?
The definition of precarious is something dependent on forces or circumstances outside one’s control. An example of precarious is swimming in a rough ocean. Dependent upon chance; risky. A precarious foothold.
Does precarious mean difficult?
Grab for the adjective precarious when something is unstable, dangerous or difficult and likely to get worse.
Does precarious mean unstable?
What does it mean to live precariously?
If something is on the verge of danger, then the word precariously fits. You’re living precariously if you jump up and down on a lake that’s not totally frozen. In your late teens, you’re precariously close to the brink of adulthood.
What is a precarious situation?
adjective. If your situation is precarious, you are not in complete control of events and might fail in what you are doing at any moment.
Is precocious derogatory?
Senior Member. In my experience, precocious is not derogatory at all. If anything, describing a child as “precocious” is generally a compliment.
Is being called precocious a compliment?
Today, ‘precocious’ is mostly used to refer to children who exhibit adult like maturity. They are far more intelligent and skilled than children of their age. The word can be used as a compliment and to show disapproval as well.
Is precocious a negative thing?
Precocious, per its definition, describes a child in a positive light. But in practice, many tend to use it in a negative way, and I feel the negative connotation outweighs the positive. So even when you say ‘precocious talent’, it sounds like you’re saying it out of spite.
What is the meaning of precarious?
[ pri-kair-ee-uhs ] / prɪˈkɛər i əs /. dependent on circumstances beyond one’s control; uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood. dependent on the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration.
What is the medical definition of equilibrium?
Medical Definition of equilibrium 1 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions that is either static (as in a body acted on by forces whose resultant is zero) or dynamic (as in a reversible chemical reaction when the velocities in both directions are equal) 2 : a state of intellectual or emotional balance
What is an example of a precarious livelihood?
— John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994 He earned a precarious livelihood by gambling. The strong wind almost knocked him off of his precarious perch on the edge of the cliff. Recent Examples on the Web Life is precarious; death is already eating away at you; fear God.
How did John Updike earn his precarious livelihood?
— John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994 He earned a precarious livelihood by gambling. The strong wind almost knocked him off of his precarious perch on the edge of the cliff.