parlous

It's just that the world was in a parlous state.

The parlous state of state hospitals, state schools, and state railways are all being used against Orban by Magyar and his party.

It came in a speech primarily about the government's parlous economic inheritance.

And of course a crucial part of that debate is the parlous economic situation inherited by the government which, those around the prime minister insist, necessitated unpleasant decisions which were always bound to be unpopular.

There were also post-match chants against the Glazer family from home fans who stayed behind, determined to crank up pressure on the American majority owners, who they blame for United's parlous state.