rickety — poorly made and likely to collapse; weak and unstable
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: poorly made and likely to collapse; weak and unstable
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈrɪkəti/
Example Sentences
- The rickety elevator made strange noises and stopped between floors, making everyone pray to their preferred deities.
- My grandfather's rickety fishing boat has survived three hurricanes, which is more than I can say for his hairline.
- The rickety structure needs immediate repairs before it becomes a safety hazard.
rickety
ADJECTIVE[/ˈrɪkəti/]
poorly made and likely to collapse; weak and unstable
The rickety old bridge wobbled with every step he took across it.
Rick's edgy chair is rickety - ready to break!
The rickety wicket wobbles through the thickety field!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From 17th century English 'rick' meaning to twist or sprain, originally referring to a twisted or injured joint. The word evolved to describe anything that wobbles or shakes unsteadily, like someone walking on a sprained ankle.
Breakdown
rick (to twist/sprain) + -ety (adjective suffix meaning 'having the quality of')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The rickety elevator made strange noises and stopped between floors, making everyone pray to their preferred deities.”
“My grandfather's rickety fishing boat has survived three hurricanes, which is more than I can say for his hairline.”
“The rickety structure needs immediate repairs before it becomes a safety hazard.”
“She climbed the rickety attic stairs, each step sounding like a tree branch about to snap.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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