as in chance
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Recent Examples of chancy
Most storms occur in the summer months when the subtropical climate is at its most humid, making August’s Perseid meteor shower a chancier time to visit.
—
Sheeka Sanahori, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
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
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
Sheeka Sanahori, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
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
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
-
As the FanDuel Sports Network RSNs begin the process of winding down, Manfred’s push to collectivize the local rights for each MLB franchise is kicking in at a sadly fortuitous moment.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Though their 2014 debut, Guilty of Everything, arrived at a fortuitous time, between the reunions of My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, Nothing didn’t seem like the kind of band that would one day have nearly as strong an influence on the sound of shoegaze as those two titans.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
All of this is a bit haphazard, and none of it is very deep or revealing.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Lawmakers have accused the Justice Department of withholding too many files and criticized the agency for haphazard redactions that exposed intimate details about victims.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One plastic sandwich bag full of random baubles could bring in more than $20,000 once the gold was refined.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Organizers announced three lucky grand prize winners drawn at random will each receive a bundle of bookstore gift cards, store merch and books.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The infant and its 2-year-old sibling were removed from their parents’ home in May 2025 and placed in foster care after the baby suffered non-accidental injuries.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In a statement shared with The Baltimore Sun, a spokesperson for the department said that the pepper spray discharge was from the accidental triggering of a keychain canister and impacted at least 11 of the 31 students on board.—
Brian Carlton,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Their perspectives should be central to the story, and Theroux’s even inadvertent sidelining of their experiences underscore a deeper issue facing the accurate portrayal of sexism and gender dynamics in documentaries.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Drivers can be fined nearly $5,000 for a single inadvertent drive-time violation, or more than $15,000 for intentional violations.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Research has varied on just how many incidental findings occur from these tests.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet, only one lucky fanbase gets to watch their team do it.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Hummingbirds often have a very short lifespan; most do not live longer than a single year, and those who are lucky enough can live up to four years.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There was also no difference in safety outcomes, such as unplanned removal of a ventilator or other action from agitated patients.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
17 Mar. 2026
-
And her path into the industry was, like a lot of people’s, unexpected and unplanned.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chancy. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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