uncertainty
State of unsureness
Uncertainty is the state of not knowing—doubt about what is true, what will happen, or what to do.
It can describe a person's mental state (She expressed uncertainty about the plan) or a situation's objective quality (economic uncertainty).
In science and statistics, uncertainty quantifies how much a measurement might vary from the true value.
The plural uncertainties refers to specific unknowns or risks: the uncertainties of war.
Disposition toward doubt
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
distrust · incredulity · wariness · reservation · qualm · dubiousness · tentativeness · second-guessing
Chance something will occur
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- stochasticRandomly determined, statistically describable
expectation · distribution · variance · estimation · forecasting · projection · modeling · Bayesian
Inability to choose
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- irresoluteLacking firmness of purpose
undecided · ambivalence · hesitancy · torn · conflicted · deliberation · quandary · dilemma
Tendency toward unpredictable change
- variabilityTendency to change
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
- volatilityRapid, unpredictable changeability
- fluctuationIrregular change over time
turbulence · precariousness · transience · impermanence · changeability · inconsistency · unsteadiness · shakiness
Absence of precision
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- unclearNot easily understood
- nebulousUnclear and formless
- indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive
murky · opaque · equivocal · blurred · clouded · imprecision · indefinite · cryptic
Source of potential harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- jeopardyRisk of harm
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
peril · insecurity · danger · gamble · stakes · downside · unknown · liability
Understood facts and skills
- beliefTrust held as true
- justificationReason proving rightness
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
unknowable · conjecture · provisional · tentative · hypothesis · theory · evidence · proof
Fault in communication
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
calibration · sensitivity · specificity · reproducibility · noise · approximation · estimation
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
suspicion · distrust · incredulity · wariness · reservation · qualm · dubiousness · tentativeness · second-guessing · apprehension
likelihood
Chance something will occur
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
stochastic · expectation · distribution · variance · estimation · forecasting · projection · modeling · Bayesian · probabilistic
vacillation
Inability to choose
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
irresolute · undecided · ambivalence · hesitancy · torn · conflicted · deliberation · quandary · dilemma · paralysis
instability
Tendency toward unpredictable change
- variabilityTendency to change
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
- volatilityRapid, unpredictable changeability
fluctuation · turbulence · precariousness · transience · impermanence · changeability · inconsistency · unsteadiness · shakiness · upheaval
vagueness
Absence of precision
indistinct · murky · opaque · equivocal · blurred · clouded · imprecision · indefinite · cryptic · obscure
hazard
Source of potential harm
- exposureState of being unprotected
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- jeopardyRisk of harm
vulnerability · peril · insecurity · danger · gamble · stakes · downside · unknown · liability · threat
knowledge
Understood facts and skills
- beliefTrust held as true
- justificationReason proving rightness
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
agnosticism · unknowable · conjecture · provisional · tentative · hypothesis · theory · evidence · proof · verification
error
Fault in communication
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
reliability · calibration · sensitivity · specificity · reproducibility · noise · approximation · estimation
- belieffaith, belief, belief systems, creed, dogma
- confusionconfusion, confused, bewilderment, perplexity, baffled
- inner turmoilinner turmoil, inner conflict, inner struggle, self-doubt, indecision
- instabilityinstability, unsteadiness, shakiness, wobbliness, precariousness
- stressorsemergency, financial stress, work stress, deadlines, job interview
- second thoughtssecond thoughts, reconsideration, rethinking, change of mind, change of heart
uncertaintycertainty
Total absence of doubt
certitude · conviction · sureness · confidence · assurance
uncertaintypredictability
Capacity to be anticipated
certainty · reliability · regularity · stability · consistency
uncertaintydefiniteness
Quality of being exact
certainty · clarity · precision · exactness · specificity
- in no uncertain termsWith complete clarity
- uncertainty principleConjugate variables resist simultaneous precision
- uncertain outcomesResults that remain unpredictable
- Heisenberg uncertainty principleFundamental quantum measurement limit
- cone of uncertaintyProjected storm trajectory range
- policy uncertaintyUnclear future government actions
uncertain, uncertainly, uncertainties, uncertainty principle