precarious
adj.not safe, strong, or steady. You use this to describe a situation where things could easily go wrong or fall apart.
adj.characterised by a lack of stability or security; dangerously likely to fall or collapse. Often used to describe financial, physical, or social states that depend on uncertain circumstances.
“The ladder felt very precarious as I climbed higher.”
“Many freelance workers live in a precarious financial situation because their income changes every month.”
“The peace treaty remains precarious, as both sides continue to disagree on the exact location of the new border and the distribution of water rights.”
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'remain', 'feel', or 'become'.
Usage precarious position
“With the city’s resources overstretched, most migrants were living in precarious conditions on Trampolin beach or the city’s outskirts while awaiting a chance to journey on to continental Europe.”
“The London mayor described the planet as being in a “deeply precarious position”.”
Common in culture writing
From Latin precārius (“begged for, obtained by entreaty”), from prex, precis (“prayer”). Compare French précaire, Portuguese precário, and Spanish and Italian precario.
From pre- + carious.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.