adjective · rare

precarious

pre·ca·ri·ous

precarious · more precarious · most precarious

хиткий, хисткий

опасный, рискованный, шаткий, ненадёжный

schlimm, schwierig, gefährdet, unsicher

Dangerously insecure or unstableDangerously insecure or unstable; perilous.

ⓘ

/pɹɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/

» Tom is in a precarious position.

Tom befindet sich in einer prekären Lage.

Meaning

3 senses

(comparable)Dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous.
heikel, schwierig, unsicher
опа́сныйopásnyj, риско́ванныйriskóvannyj, ненадёжныйnenadjóžnyj
Depending on the intention of another.
widerruflich
(not comparable)Relating to incipient caries.

More definitions

affording no ease or reassurance
not secure; beset with difficulties
fraught with danger

Examples

8 sentences

Tom is in a precarious position.
deTom befindet sich in einer prekären Lage.
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The diplomats are in a precarious position.
ruДипломаты находятся в шатком положении.
deDie Diplomaten befinden sich in einer heiklen Lage.
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Their situation is precarious.
deDie Lage ist brenzlig.
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The first-time precarious fisherman lazily fished dangerous poisonous fish, but soon stopped to shell peas.
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Yanni lives a precarious existence in Algiers.
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Translations

6 languages

Русский

By meaning 1

dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous:

Deutsch

By meaning 2

dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous:

(law) depending on the intention of another:

Origin

From Latin precārius (“begged for, obtained by entreaty”), from prex, precis (“prayer”). C

From Latin precārius (“begged for, obtained by entreaty”), from prex, precis (“prayer”). Compare French précaire, Portuguese precário, and Spanish and Italian precario.

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