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chancy

chancy

3 6.9
Not certain and likely to be risky
  • adjective
  • /ˈtʃæn.si/
translation icon : arriesgado
  • Choosing to travel during a global pandemic is chancy and could expose you to health risks.
  • too chancy
  • very chancy
  • chancy business

Examples

  • Investing in stocks can be a chancy endeavor, especially during economic downturns.

  • Red could try to take him out, but that was chancy.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Rebellion is a very chancy business, and they hang the losers, you know.

    Blog text (4)
  • P91 It was probably a chancy step to take.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • No, Nate, it's too chancy.

  • Anyway, it's the only thing I do really well, besides handicap horses, and that's much too chancy to count on for a living.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • "Inheritance is a chancy thing," Naydra remarked mildly.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Starting a new business is a chancy move that requires a lot of careful planning.

Synonyms

risky
vschancy
269 3.6

Likely to cause loss, harm, or danger

includes uncertainty and outcomes not known beforehand beyond mere danger
unpredictable
vschancy
163 4.4

Likely to change suddenly and hard to know in advance

also involves possible harm or hazard not only being unknown
dicey
vschancy
  • Informal
30 8.5

Likely to be risky or dangerous because the outcome is uncertain

stresses general uncertainty rather than only danger
iffy
vschancy
  • Informal
26 8.1

Not certain or reliable

implies possible danger or loss in addition to uncertainty
dodgy
vschancy
  • UK
13 8.2

Likely to be unsafe or untrustworthy

focuses more on uncertainty rather than suspiciousness
hit-or-miss
vschancy
  • Informal
3 6.9

Sometimes works well and sometimes fails depending on luck

is used more when possible harm or loss may occur rather than mere inconsistency
aleatoric
vschancy
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A work that uses chance to decide parts, for example in music or art

applies to general uncertain situations rather than only creative works
chanceful
vschancy
  • Archaic
8.7

Likely to involve risk or an uncertain result

has identical meaning and no notable difference in use
aleatory
vschancy
  • Formal
9.9

Unpredictable because it depends on chance

adds possible harm or hazard beyond mere randomness

Antonyms

946 1.0

Sure to happen or be true

189 2.5

Easy to guess what will happen

Compounds

An activity that is risky and has an uncertain result

How Risky

dangerous
1.5
risky
269 3.6
chancy
3 6.9
uncertain
149 2.8
safe
1.0

Surface Forms

chancy positive

Morphology

chancy = chance (transparent) = chance + y

Formed by the productive suffix '-y' added to 'chance', giving the clear meaning 'characterized by or involving chance'.

Etymology

Chancy comes from chance, which comes from an old Latin word cadere meaning 'to fall'. The idea was that events 'fall' on you by luck, so chancy describes something that depends on luck and is risky.