Word: precarious (adjective)

Associations

"Precarious" means something is not safe, not steady, or could easily become worse or dangerous. It often describes situations, positions, or conditions that are uncertain or risky.

• The ladder was in a precarious position, so I was afraid to climb it. (Here it means the ladder could fall or cause danger.)
• She has a precarious job, so she worries about losing her income. (This means her job is not stable or secure.)
• The boat was precariously balanced on the rocks during the storm. (This shows the boat is in danger of falling or breaking.) A well-known synonym is "unstable." The difference is that "precarious" often includes a sense of risk or danger, while "unstable" can just mean not steady without always implying danger.

Substitution

You can also say:

• risky (but "risky" focuses more on the chance of something bad happening)
• uncertain (more about not knowing what will happen)
• insecure (more about lacking safety or stability, often used for jobs or feelings) Changing the word changes the feeling slightly. For example, "risky" sounds more about choice or action, while "precarious" is more about a natural or existing condition.

Deconstruction

"Precarious" comes from Latin "precarius," meaning "obtained by prayer or begging," which later evolved to mean "dependent on chance" or "uncertain." The root "prec-" relates to asking or praying, showing something is not guaranteed. There are no prefixes or suffixes here, just the full word from Latin.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt in a precarious situation? What made it feel unsafe or uncertain?
• How would you describe a precarious friendship or relationship? What makes it unstable?
• Can you imagine a precarious balance between work and life? What does that mean to you?