as in chance
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Recent Examples of chancy
Lifelong recommendations based on studies of roughly 50 patients and for no longer than three months seem a bit chancy.
—
WSJ, 13 Sep. 2018
The early concerts have had a biting, chancy energy.
—New York Times, 21 June 2018
In a curious twist, Gunderson takes the story in an extremely chancy direction during the show’s final minutes.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati.com, 14 Apr. 2018
George Washington's chancy nighttime retreat from Brooklyn to Manhattan was a kind of Colonial-era Dunkirk.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017
In the 4500 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, Jeff Lucas watched a driver plow through the brown and turbulent waters in what had momentarily seemed to be a chancy undertaking.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2017
The point is that reporting on alleged facts that won’t take place for a decade or more in the future is chancy at best.
—Ed Wallace, star-telegram, 14 July 2017
Steve Jobs was making what was at the time an extraordinarily chancy wager.
—Edward C. Baig, USA TODAY, 23 June 2017
George Washington's chancy nighttime retreat from Brooklyn to Manhattan was a kind of Colonial-era Dunkirk.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017
WSJ, 13 Sep. 2018
The early concerts have had a biting, chancy energy.
—New York Times, 21 June 2018
In a curious twist, Gunderson takes the story in an extremely chancy direction during the show’s final minutes.
—David Lyman, Cincinnati.com, 14 Apr. 2018
George Washington's chancy nighttime retreat from Brooklyn to Manhattan was a kind of Colonial-era Dunkirk.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017
In the 4500 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, Jeff Lucas watched a driver plow through the brown and turbulent waters in what had momentarily seemed to be a chancy undertaking.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2017
The point is that reporting on alleged facts that won’t take place for a decade or more in the future is chancy at best.
—Ed Wallace, star-telegram, 14 July 2017
Steve Jobs was making what was at the time an extraordinarily chancy wager.
—Edward C. Baig, USA TODAY, 23 June 2017
George Washington's chancy nighttime retreat from Brooklyn to Manhattan was a kind of Colonial-era Dunkirk.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chancy
Adjective
-
Many of the anecdotes exchanged were about the film’s storied collaboration and of the decade-long, circuitous, and fortuitous path that led Forman to be hired by a then 29-year-old Michael Douglas.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
6 July 2025
-
Mexico benefited from Alexis Vega’s quick reactions and a fortuitous late own goal to remain on track to defend its Concacaf Gold Cup title with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia on Saturday.—
Martin Rogers,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Both shows just burn through villains in the most haphazard and jarring way, never really allowing for any of them to build up into something truly threatening, let alone interesting enough to carry the mantle of Big Bad.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
-
That fact was evident not only in the casualties and hostage-taking during the massacre, but in the grinding, brutal, and haphazard war in Gaza that has followed.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Keppler notes that the 10-year time frame isn’t random.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
-
This behaviour can also be triggered by a random and undefined phrase or prompt.—
Rashi Shrivastava,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
The initial discovery of the toy’s mechanics was accidental.—
Aurora Martínez,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 July 2025
-
An autopsy determined the cause of death was accidental, drowning secondary to electrocution, the Porter County Coroner’s office said.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The family received an inadvertent welcome at Old Trafford, too.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Again, all of those things could be inadvertent or intentional.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
The 42nd Ward is currently subject to a late-hour liquor license moratorium, according to the area’s alderman, Brendan Reilly, and Artis had applied for an incidental liquor license along with a food license.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
3 July 2025
-
The sweltering conditions were perhaps an incidental metaphor for the pressure the industry is feeling as the global luxury industry experiences a troubling slowdown.—
Alice Pfeiffer,
CNN Money,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
These guys were all stone cold losers who just got lucky, or almost lucky.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
-
The lucky tickets were sold at the Five Star Smoke Shop in Hesperia, which is about an 80-mile drive northeast from Los Angeles, and a 7-Eleven store in Fremont, which is about a 40-mile drive southeast from San Francisco, lottery officials said.—
Don Sweeney
July 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
This proactive approach reduces unplanned downtime, lowers maintenance costs and helps extend equipment lifespan.—
John Clemons,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Captured on these tracks are not just his original songs, but also the sounds of his then-toddlers, doors creaking open, and unplanned commentary from the musician.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chancy. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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