wild-card
Chaos in cards
A wild card is a playing card that can represent any card the holder chooses.
The meaning extends to unpredictable elements in any situation: He's a wild card—nobody knows what he'll do.
In sports, a wild card is a team that qualifies for playoffs without winning its division.
In computing, a wild-card character (often an asterisk) matches any sequence of characters in a search.
Cutup or wild card
- unknownNot yet discovered
- variableProne to fluctuation
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
chance · gamble · risk · luck · fate · contingency · happenstance · fluke
Capacity for varied applications
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
- substituteReplacement for another
- placeholderTemporary position marker
- catchallContainer for miscellany
stand-in · fill-in · universal · interchangeable · multipurpose · all-purpose · backup · pinch-hitter
Contest deciding advancement
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- berthSleeping space on transport
- qualifierWord or phrase limiting meaning
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
contender · bracket · seed · entry · slot · selection · invite · bid
Amorphous soft mass
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- asteriskTypographical reference mark
- regexText-matching notation
- matchGame between opponents
search · filter · query · syntax · placeholder · character · string · mask
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- unorthodoxContrary to accepted practice
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
nonconformist · rebel · troublemaker · hothead · firecracker · provocateur · disruptor
joker
Cutup or wild card
- unknownNot yet discovered
- variableProne to fluctuation
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
randomness · chance · gamble · risk · luck · fate · contingency · happenstance · fluke · serendipity
versatility
Capacity for varied applications
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
- substituteReplacement for another
- placeholderTemporary position marker
catchall · stand-in · fill-in · universal · interchangeable · multipurpose · all-purpose · backup · pinch-hitter · utility
playoff
Contest deciding advancement
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- berthSleeping space on transport
- qualifierWord or phrase limiting meaning
underdog · contender · bracket · seed · entry · slot · selection · invite · bid · roster
glob
Amorphous soft mass
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
- asteriskTypographical reference mark
- regexText-matching notation
match · search · filter · query · syntax · placeholder · character · string · mask · token
maverick
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- unorthodoxContrary to accepted practice
renegade · nonconformist · rebel · troublemaker · hothead · firecracker · provocateur · disruptor
wild-cardcertainty
Total absence of doubt
sure thing · known quantity · safe bet · foregone conclusion · constant
wild-cardconstant
Fixed, unvarying quantity
literal · defined term · invariable · static · hardcoded
wild, card, wilds, wilder, wildest, wildly, wildness, wilderness, cards