uncertainties
Things not yet known
Uncertainties is the plural of uncertainty—things that are unknown, unpredictable, or doubtful.
Life's uncertainties include questions about health, relationships, and livelihood.
In technical contexts, uncertainties are measurable ranges of possible error: The study reported its statistical uncertainties.
Financial uncertainties affect markets; political uncertainties shape policy debates.
Absence of precision
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- unclearNot easily understood
indistinct · imprecise · indefinite · murky · obscure · clouded · fuzzy · blurry
Disposition toward doubt
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- indecisionFailure to decide
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
suspicion · reservation · qualms · tentativeness · vacillation · wavering · apprehension · second-guessing
Source of potential harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- threatIndication of potential harm
- precariousnessState of uncertain stability
instability · volatility · unpredictability · liability · jeopardy · downside · mitigation · hedging
Likelihood of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- varianceSpread around the mean
stochastic · distribution · probability · statistical · Bayesian · sampling · estimation · variability
Forecast of coming events
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
- contingencyUncertain possible event
estimation · speculation · conjecture · modeling · simulation · extrapolation · trajectory · trend
Something unexplained or unknown
- unknownsUndetermined quantities
- unfamiliarNot previously known
- unchartedNot yet documented
- undiscoveredNot yet found
unexplored · hidden · unforeseen · unpredictable · unforeseeable · wild-card · x-factor · imponderables
vagueness
Absence of precision
unclear · indistinct · imprecise · indefinite · murky · obscure · clouded · fuzzy · blurry · hazy
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- indecisionFailure to decide
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
misgivings · suspicion · reservation · qualms · tentativeness · vacillation · wavering · apprehension · second-guessing · wariness
hazard
Source of potential harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- threatIndication of potential harm
precariousness · instability · volatility · unpredictability · liability · jeopardy · downside · mitigation · hedging · diversification
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
variance · stochastic · distribution · probability · statistical · Bayesian · sampling · estimation · variability · deviation
prediction
Forecast of coming events
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- outlookAttitude toward the future
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
contingency · estimation · speculation · conjecture · modeling · simulation · extrapolation · trajectory · trend · variable
mystery
Something unexplained or unknown
- unknownsUndetermined quantities
- unfamiliarNot previously known
- unchartedNot yet documented
undiscovered · unexplored · hidden · unforeseen · unpredictable · unforeseeable · wild-card · x-factor · imponderables · incalculable
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- What Could Happenoutcomes, scenarios, possibilities, probabilities, hypotheticals
- obscuritiesmysteries, secrets, enigmas, puzzles, riddles
- mysteriesmystery, enigma, enigmas, puzzle, riddle
- puzzlerspuzzle master, brainteasers, brain-teasers, conundrums, enigmas
uncertaintiescertainties
Assured truths
convictions · certitudes · confidences · assurances · sureness
uncertaintiesclarities
States of transparency
certainties · definites · specificities · precisions · known quantities
uncertaintiescertainties
Assured truths
constants · stabilities · reliabilities · predictabilities · fixed points
certain, certainly, uncertain, uncertainty, certainty, certificate, certified, certification, uncertainly