chancy
Far from certain
Chancy means risky or uncertain in outcome: Starting a business is always a chancy proposition.
The word suggests unpredictability—something that depends too much on luck or circumstance to feel safe.
More common in British than American English, where *risky* or *dicey* often take its place.
Uncertain and hazardous
- iffyUncertain, questionable
- touch-and-goUncertain and risky
- precariousDangerously insecure
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
perilous · treacherous · unpredictable · unsafe · dangerous · shaky · unstable · speculative
Risked stake on outcome
- wagerStake on uncertainty
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- stakesPosts or wagers
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
lottery · jackpot · crapshoot · punt · flutter · wild-card · all-or-nothing · high-stakes
Cannot be anticipated
- unsettledNot yet resolved
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
unsure · unconfirmed · inconclusive · indeterminate · unresolved · open-ended · pending · doubtful
Accidental fortunate discovery
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- fatePredetermined course of events
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- providenceDivine protective care
fluke · fortuity · destiny · randomness · blessing · windfall · auspicious · fortuitous
dicey
Uncertain and hazardous
- iffyUncertain, questionable
- touch-and-goUncertain and risky
- precariousDangerously insecure
hazardous · perilous · treacherous · unpredictable · unsafe · dangerous · shaky · unstable · speculative · venturesome
bet
Risked stake on outcome
gamble · lottery · jackpot · crapshoot · punt · flutter · wild-card · all-or-nothing · high-stakes
unpredictable
Cannot be anticipated
- unsettledNot yet resolved
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
ambiguous · unsure · unconfirmed · inconclusive · indeterminate · unresolved · open-ended · pending · doubtful · questionable
serendipity
Accidental fortunate discovery
providence · fluke · fortuity · destiny · randomness · blessing · windfall · auspicious · fortuitous
- unpredictableunpredictable, uncertain, unreliable, erratic, inconsistent
- close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
- Danger Levelsdanger, high risk, high-risk, low risk, critical
- Precariousnessprecarious, unstable, teetering, tottering, wobbly
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
- Unlikelyunlikely, improbable, doubtful, dubious, remote
chancycertain
Free from doubt
sure · predictable · guaranteed · assured · inevitable
chancyreliable
Consistently performing as expected
dependable · tried · tried-and-true · trustworthy · stable
- no chanceEmphatic refusal of possibility
- last chanceUltimate remaining opportunity
- second chanceRenewed opportunity after failure
- by chanceOccurring without design
- take a chanceAccept risk willingly
- not a chanceEmphatic refusal of possibility
chance, perchance, chancel, chanciest, chancier, by chance, happenchance