feel precarious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel precarious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sense of instability or uncertainty in a situation or condition. Example: "As the deadline approached, I began to feel precarious about my chances of completing the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The couple wanted a "proper" staircase, feeling that space-saving spiral versions would feel "precarious".

Independent

Sizwe's life and success feel precarious, and who knows what testing positive might unleash?A distrust of white doctors also feeds the fear of testing.

The Economist

Isn't that something most intelligent people understand?" At certain points, the characters' very hold on life is made to feel precarious.

The New York Times - Books

Living in my own body had come to feel precarious, as if I were on a balancing bar and had to pay attention".

The New York Times - Books

Universal American suffrage feel precarious: only 11 states and the District of Columbia are members of Eric; the federal government is still fighting the states over who gets to vote when, much as it did half a century ago; and, worst of all, the federal judicial branch has eviscerated the executive branch's greatest tool, the Voting Rights Act.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But my weight felt precarious.

The New York Times

These days the world feels precarious.

The Guardian - Film

Like them, she said, her financial situation felt precarious.

The New York Times

Even Cleveland's commanding double-digit lead in Game 4 felt precarious until the last minute.

The New Yorker

It is a future, Dereen said before a recent rehearsal, that feels precarious because of new prospects of war.

The New York Times - Books

The city was no longer defined by lawlessness, as it had been under military rule, but it still felt precarious.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel precarious" to effectively convey a sense of subjective instability or uncertainty when describing situations, emotions, or conditions. Remember, it's about the feeling of precariousness.

Common error

Avoid using "feel precarious" to describe situations that are objectively unstable without a subjective element. For objective instability, use alternatives like "is unstable" or "appears risky" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel precarious" functions as a subjective descriptor, indicating a perceived state of instability or uncertainty. As shown in Ludwig examples, it emphasizes the emotional or psychological experience of precarity rather than objective instability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feel precarious" effectively conveys a subjective sense of instability or uncertainty. Grammatically sound and primarily found in journalistic contexts, it describes a personal perception of risk, as confirmed by Ludwig. While alternatives like "feel unstable" or "feel insecure" exist, "feel precarious" offers a nuanced way to express vulnerability. Remember to use it when describing a feeling, not an objective fact. Ludwig's analysis indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel unstable

Focuses on the lack of stability, suggesting a risk of collapse or failure.

feel insecure

Emphasizes a lack of confidence and potential for harm or loss.

feel vulnerable

Highlights susceptibility to negative impacts or attacks.

feel shaky

Implies uncertainty and a lack of solid foundation.

feel tenuous

Stresses the fragility and likelihood of being easily disrupted or broken.

feel unsafe

Highlights the perception of risk and potential danger.

feel at risk

Emphasizes the possibility of experiencing harm or negative consequences.

feel threatened

Focuses on the anticipation of harm or danger from an external source.

feel exposed

Suggests a lack of protection or defense against potential harm.

feel endangered

Highlights the potential for extinction or severe harm.

FAQs

What does "feel precarious" mean?

The phrase "feel precarious" describes a subjective sense of instability, insecurity, or uncertainty about a situation, condition, or one's own state.

What can I say instead of "feel precarious"?

You can use alternatives like "feel unstable", "feel insecure", or "feel vulnerable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "feel precarious" or "is precarious"?

"Feel precarious" describes a subjective experience of instability, whereas "is precarious" describes an objective condition. The best choice depends on whether you're describing a feeling or a fact.

How can I use "feel precarious" in a sentence?

You can use "feel precarious" to describe how someone perceives their situation, such as "After the job loss, my financial situation began to feel precarious".