precariously
11
7.0
- adverb
- /prɪˈkɛəriəsli/
:
precariamente
- The mirror was spiderwebbed with cracks but still hung precariously in its frame.
- precariously balanced
- precariously close
- precariously situated
I've stacked it precariously on those square boards.
- I've stacked it precariously on those square boards.
- The innocence, sexual innocence of Caddy is threatened, but it's restored precariously restored twice.
Examples
-
We walked past several of the dagobas and into a hut perched precariously on a cliffside.
Fiction book (1994) -
She's also been homeless in the past and even now is categorized as someone who is precariously housed.
Academic text (2017) -
Europe stands precariously on the brink of World War II.
-
As the decade drew to a close, doubts grew about the resilience of this precariously balanced system.
Academic text (2012) -
Before an agreement could be reached, all the stars had to align precariously in the diplomatic firmament.
Academic text (2009) -
Before the light died, several tall pines leaned precariously, then it went dark.
Fiction book (1990) -
Nuclear accidents pose the greatest threat to the precariously balanced Russian-American nuclear equation.
Academic text (2000) -
Stacks of files are everywhere, balancing precariously, even falling from time to time.
Fiction book (1991) -
There were few trees now, and those were stunted, twisted things that clung precariously to the mountainside.
Fiction book (1990) -
The roof is cracked from corner to corner, resting precariously on a weakened wall.
Synonyms
11
7.1
In a dangerous way that could cause harm
7
3.9
In a way that is not steady or balanced
In a way that is not steady and likely to move, change, or fall
In a way that is not safe or firm and may not last
Antonyms
How Precarious
Surface Forms
Morphology
precariously = precarious (transparent) = precarious + ly
Standard adverb formation from the adjective 'precarious'; the meaning is directly 'in a precarious/unstable manner'.
Etymology
Precariously comes from the Latin root prex meaning 'prayer' and from precarious, which once meant 'given by prayer' or left to chance. A helpful image is something that stays up only if you 'pray' it will not fall, so precariously now means 'not safe' or 'unstable'.