precarious

Meanings

• adjective

  Relating to a precarious position or situation; unstable; insecure.

  - "The precarious position of the worker on the high-rise building made everyone nervous."
  - "The economic situation in the country is precarious and uncertain."

• adjective

  Requiring great care or caution; hazardous.

  - "The precarious operation in the lab required the scientists to wear protective gear."
  - "The hiker's journey through the mountains was precarious due to the steep cliffs."

---

Synonyms

rickety , shaky , tottering , unsafe , unstable , unsteady , wobbly

---

Rhymes

Words rhyming with precarious
perilous , prestigious , delirious , obdurate , admirable , edible

---

Variants

List of all variants of precarious that leads to same result
precarious

---

Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Latin praecarius ‘ready to be seized, accessible, available’, from prae- ‘before’ + cario ‘I furnish, provide for’.

---

Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'precarious' is often used in scientific research to describe the delicate balance of ecosystems or the fragility of certain biological processes.

2. In philosophy, the term 'precarious' is used to describe the human condition, with life being seen as a precarious existence.

3. The word 'precarious' comes from the Latin word 'praecarius', which means 'ready to be seized' or 'accessible'.

---

Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Risk: The possibility of loss or injury. Precarious situations often involve a certain level of risk.

2. Instability: A lack of stability or firmness. Precarious situations can be described as unstable or uncertain.

---

Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. These states are corrupt and brutal. They are theocracies, or "precarious" autocracies, or secular totalitarian states: tyrannies all, deniers of freedom, republics of fear, enemies of civility and human flourishing.

   - Ramesh Ponnuru,{it}National Review{/it},15 Oct. 2001

2. Such folks led a "precarious" existence, their homes routinely destroyed in pursuit of a scorched earth policy whenever Florence came under siege.

   - R. W. B. Lewis,{it}Dante{/it},2001

3. She was the first baby he had ever held; he had thought it would be a "precarious" experience, shot through with fear of dropping something so precious and fragile, but no, in even the smallest infant there was an adhesive force, a something that actively fit your arms and hands, banishing the fear.

   - John Updike,{it}The Afterlife{/it},1994

---

Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'precarious' has been used extensively in literature and art to depict situations of uncertainty, instability, or risk. In music, the term is sometimes used to describe complex compositions or performances that require great skill and precision.

How to Memorize "precarious"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a tightrope walker balancing precariously on a thin wire.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'precarious' with the feeling of unease or anxiety you get when in a potentially dangerous situation.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember the word 'precarious' as 'pre'-car 'ious', meaning 'before' danger or instability.

---

Memorize "precarious" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize precarious is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.