precariousness
Use Precariousness in a sentence
i adjective
1.
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
2.
dependent on the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration.
3.
exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver.
4.
having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious assumption.
Related forms
pre·car·i·ous·ly, adverb
pre·car·i·ous·ness, noun
su·per·pre·car·i·ous, adjective
su·per·pre·car·i·ous·ly, adverb
su·per·pre·car·i·ous·ness, noun
Synonyms
1. unsure, unsteady. See uncertain. 2. doubtful, dubious, unreliable, undependable. 3. hazardous. 4. groundless, baseless, unfounded.
1. unsure, unsteady. See uncertain. 2. doubtful, dubious, unreliable, undependable. 3. hazardous. 4. groundless, baseless, unfounded.
Antonyms
1. secure. 2. reliable. 3. safe. 4. well-founded.
1. secure. 2. reliable. 3. safe. 4. well-founded.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To precariousness
00:10
Precariousness
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
precarious (prɪˈkɛərɪəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous |
| 2. | archaic dependent on another's will |
| [C17: from Latin precārius obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from prex | |
| pre'cariously | |
| —adv | |
| pre'cariousness | |
| —n | |
| precarious (prɪˈkɛərɪəs) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous |
| 2. | archaic dependent on another's will |
| [C17: from Latin precārius obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from prex | |
| pre'cariously | |
| —adv | |
| pre'cariousness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
precarious
1646, a legal word, "held through the favor of another," from L. precarius "obtained by asking or praying," from prex (gen. precis) "entreaty, prayer." Notion of "dependent on the will of another" led to sense "risky, dangerous, uncertain" (1687).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
On the precariousness of measuring insanity in insane contexts.
Qutb's sense of extreme moral precariousness comes to the fore in every encounter.
And indeed, it hints at the precariousness of our mental stability, as well as the courage it takes to face the elements alone.
We have not withdrawn any troops yet, underscoring the precariousness of the situation.
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