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
-
For Carney, the timing is both fortuitous and fraught.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 May 2025
-
Lucas’s timing was, strangely, both fortuitous and uneasy.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, as this week’s stock market slump revealed, haphazard threats do not happen in a vacuum.—
Aroop Mukharji,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Mar. 2025
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In lieu of federal regulation, there was a haphazard patchwork of state and local laws surrounding certain foods pre-1906.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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But all that information exists in random, unorganized disorder.—
Jerry Weissman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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Watch any random movie in the Cannes selection and you’re bound to see a parade of opening credits signaling production resources from across Europe, including many national film funds.—
Eric Kohn,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
The coroner found that no foul play was involved, and that his death was accidental.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
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The accidental shooting unfolded on Wednesday inside an apartment in northeast D.C., located on 1700 block of Benning Road.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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This could lead to either incomplete repair or the inadvertent admission of a harmful mutation.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
19 May 2025
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The challenge was made even greater when Matthews took an inadvertent high-stick from Barkov in the left eye during a second-period faceoff, briefly sending him to the Leafs dressing room for further medical attention because of blurred vision.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Brennan Johnson scored the lone goal in the 42nd minute after an incidental deflection off Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, sending Spurs to next season’s Champions League.—
Marcus D. Smith,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
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What’s more, if a shopper isn’t actually visiting a brand or retailer’s site when an AI agent makes a purchase on their behalf, the retailer may lose some incidental sales a human would consider.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Before then, a lucky lottery ticket holder in Illinois took home a $344 million jackpot on March 25, while another lucky person hit the Mega Millions jackpot on Jan. 17 for $113 million.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
25 May 2025
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Another lucky break — made possible by a little bit of skill.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Consider sneaky hidden resort fees, an unplanned visit to a health clinic for an injury, a late-night arrival to a foreign place requiring a taxi ride, dramatic weather shifts.—
Stacey Lastoe,
AFAR Media,
30 May 2025
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The closure was unplanned, a spokesperson for the office previously said, but the office is now fully up-and-running in person again, per Friday’s release.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chancy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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