at best
Under ideal conditions
At best marks the most favorable interpretation or outcome in a situation where none are particularly good: The repairs will take a week at best.
It signals that even the optimistic estimate isn't great, and reality may be worse.
His chances are slim at best.
- assumingAccepting as true unverified
- conditionalDependent on prerequisites
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
- glass half fullPositive outlook metaphor
- silver liningConsolation within misfortune
ceiling · hedging bets · cautious · bounded · contingent · rosiest · scenario · if · passable · tempered · barely · mediocre · upper limit · guarded · optimistic · provided · unlikely · moderation
at bestat worst
In the bleakest scenario
at the very least · worst-case scenario · at least · minimally
at bestcertainly
Without any doubt
definitely · undoubtedly · without question · assuredly · guaranteed
at bestat worst
In the bleakest scenario
optimistically · hopefully · ideally · with any luck · best-case scenario
best, at, better, betterment, bested, bests, besting, at worst