hanging by a thread

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precarious adj.
risky adj.
uncertain adj.
unpredictable adj.
unsafe adj.

ADJECTIVE

precarious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dangerous delicate dicey hazardous insecure perilous problematic risky rocky shaky slippery ticklish touchy uncertain unhealthy unreliable unsettled unstable unsteady

WEAK

ambiguous borderline chancy contingent dubious dynamite equivocal hairy iffy impugnable indecisive loaded on thin ice open out on a limb rugged sensitive touch and go unsafe unsure

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite guarded happy healthy protected reliable safe secure settled stable steady strong sure

WEAK

firm undoubted

ADJECTIVE

risky

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delicate dicey hazardous perilous precarious sensitive speculative treacherous tricky uncertain unhealthy unsafe unsound

WEAK

chancy endangered fraught with danger going for broke hairy iffy insecure jeopardous long shot not a prayer off the deep end on slippery ground on thin ice on-the-spot out on a limb playing with fire rocky ticklish touch-and-go touchy venturesome wicked wide-open

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite harmless healthy honest insensitive protected safe secure stable strong sure well

WEAK

assured

ADJECTIVE

uncertain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous ambivalent dubious erratic hazy hesitant insecure precarious questionable risky unclear undecided undetermined unpredictable unreliable unresolved unsettled unsure vague

WEAK

chancy conjectural fitful iffy incalculable inconstant indefinite indeterminate indistinct irregular irresolute on thin ice speculative touch and go unconfirmed unfixed unforeseeable up for grabs up in the air vacillating variable wavering

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain clear decided definite determined predictable reliable resolved safe secure settled sure trustworthy unchanging undoubted

WEAK

foreseeable

ADJECTIVE

unpredictable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

erratic fickle uncertain unreliable unstable

WEAK

capricious chance chancy dicey doubtful fluctuating fluky from left field iffy incalculable inconstant random touch and go touchy unforeseeable up for grabs variable whimsical

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite reliable stable steady sure unchanging

WEAK

constant predictable unvarying

ADJECTIVE

unsafe

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hazardous perilous risky treacherous uncertain unreliable unsound unstable untrustworthy

STRONG

insecure

WEAK

alarming chancy erratic explosive fearsome on a limb on thin ice precarious shaky slippery threatening ticklish touch and go touchy undependable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain honest reliable safe secure stable strong sure true trustworthy

WEAK

harmless protected

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

hanging by a thread

The two unions sent out a message to staff earlier warning the fire and rehire policy might be introduced, and saying the extra money was now "hanging by a thread."

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

ATLANTA—For the second time in the last four days, Argentina’s hopes of repeating as World Cup champions were hanging by a thread, as they stared down the possibility of a seismic upset.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

With 90 minutes left before his deadline expired, he announced a two-week ceasefire that appears to be hanging by a thread.

From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2026

Then 27th-ranked Italy, in their first World Cup, needed 30 from the last two overs in Kolkata on Monday for a giant-killing that could have left England's World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

He was hanging by a thread and not a pretty sight.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

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