worst-case
Absolute bottom outcome
Worst-case describes the most unfavorable possible outcome or scenario: worst-case scenario, worst-case estimate.
It's used in planning and analysis to consider what happens if everything goes wrong: In the worst-case scenario, we lose the entire investment.
The hyphen is standard when used as a modifier before a noun.
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- eventualityPotential future happening
- emergencySerious sudden danger
crisis · meltdown · collapse · failure · calamity · fiasco · debacle · nightmare
Uncertain possible event
- mitigationReduction of severity
- preparednessState of being equipped
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
safeguard · precaution · insurance · hedge · buffer · redundancy · fail-safe
Something that extends outward
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- estimationApproximate value judgment
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
modeling · simulation · extrapolation · prediction · probability · threshold · baseline
Expecting unfavorable outcomes
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- worryTroubled mental state
fearfulness · alarmism · doom · gloom · negativity · fatalism · defeatism · cynicism
catastrophe
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- contingencyUncertain possible event
- eventualityPotential future happening
emergency · crisis · meltdown · collapse · failure · calamity · fiasco · debacle · nightmare · doomsday
contingency
Uncertain possible event
- mitigationReduction of severity
- preparednessState of being equipped
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
backup · safeguard · precaution · insurance · hedge · buffer · redundancy · fail-safe
projection
Something that extends outward
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
- estimationApproximate value judgment
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
forecast · modeling · simulation · extrapolation · prediction · probability · threshold · baseline
pessimism
Expecting unfavorable outcomes
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
worry · fearfulness · alarmism · doom · gloom · negativity · fatalism · defeatism · cynicism · paranoia
- scenarioshypothetical, what-if, nightmare scenario, dream scenario, backup plan
worst-casebest-case
Most favorable possible situation
best-case scenario · ideal · optimal · dream scenario · rosiest
worst-casemost likely
Having highest probability
realistic · expected · probable · likeliest · middle-of-the-road
case, worst, suitcase, worse, cases, worsen, worsening, worsened, casement