increasingly precarious

USAGE SUMMARY

"increasingly precarious" is a grammatically correct phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is becoming more and more unstable, uncertain, or risky. Example: "The company's financial situation is increasingly precarious due to the declining economy and rising competition." In this example, "increasingly precarious" is used to convey that the company's financial state is becoming more and more unstable and uncertain.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, the status quo looks increasingly precarious.

The Economist

Water supplies are increasingly precarious.

The Guardian - Opinion

But their position has been increasingly precarious.

The Guardian

Yet, the peace and stability in Asia looks increasingly precarious.

Stanford University

These communities make an increasingly precarious living from farming.

The Guardian - Travel

Union density has dropped, and work is increasingly precarious.

The Washington Post

Much is unknown exactly how climate will change, placing fisheries in an increasingly precarious position.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Less is more sounds at best like a sarcastic commentary on our increasingly precarious living conditions.

Yale University

Like others in the subprime industry, NovaStar used aggressive accounting that obscured its increasingly precarious finances.

The New York Times

Egypt's economy is increasingly precarious, with dwindling foreign-exchange reserves and nagging unemployment.

The New York Times

But negotiations dragged on, leaving Saab in an increasingly precarious state.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "increasingly precarious" to describe situations where a previously stable condition is deteriorating, adding a sense of urgency or concern.

Common error

Avoid using "increasingly precarious" with other adjectives that already imply instability. For example, "increasingly precarious and unstable" is redundant. Choose one for a stronger impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasingly precarious" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun, indicating a state that is becoming progressively more unstable or risky. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increasingly precarious" is a commonly used and grammatically sound construction, as validated by Ludwig. It functions as an adverb-adjective combination to describe a situation becoming more unstable or risky, often conveying concern or alarm. Predominantly found in "News & Media", "Academia", and "Formal & Business" contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral to formal register. To enhance clarity, avoid redundant adjectives and consider related phrases like "becoming more unstable" or "growing more uncertain" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming more unstable

Focuses on the growing instability rather than the inherent risk.

growing more uncertain

Emphasizes the rising uncertainty associated with a situation.

becoming progressively riskier

Highlights the escalating risk involved.

increasingly vulnerable

Shifts focus to the growing susceptibility to harm or damage.

becoming more perilous

Stresses the increasing danger of a situation.

progressively more hazardous

Emphasizes the escalating hazards involved.

becoming alarmingly unstable

Highlights the concerning rate at which instability is growing.

gradually more insecure

Focuses on the gradual loss of security or stability.

becoming critically endangered

Used specifically when referring to species or situations at the brink of disappearing.

on increasingly shaky ground

Emphasizes the weakening foundation or support for something.

FAQs

How to use "increasingly precarious" in a sentence?

You can use "increasingly precarious" to describe a situation that is becoming more unstable, uncertain, or risky. For example, "The company's financial situation is "increasingly precarious" due to the economic downturn."

What can I say instead of "increasingly precarious"?

You can use alternatives like "becoming more unstable", "growing more uncertain", or "becoming progressively riskier" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "increasingly precarious" or "more and more precarious"?

Both "increasingly precarious" and "more and more precarious" are grammatically correct, but "increasingly precarious" is often more concise and sounds more formal. The best choice depends on the context and desired tone.

What's the difference between "increasingly precarious" and "extremely precarious"?

"Increasingly precarious" suggests a gradual worsening of a situation towards a precarious state, while "extremely precarious" indicates a current state of very high risk or instability. The former describes a trend, the latter a condition.