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
-
This was fortuitous as around that same time, Rollins was laid off unexpectedly.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
There’s some kind of level of the unexpected or the surprise or the fortuitous, that sort of mimics what to me, life is like.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The rooms Due to the building’s haphazard original layout, no two of the 14 bedrooms are the same.—
Chris Schalkx,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The state auditor found that money was poorly tracked thanks to a haphazard, spend-first, ask-questions-later approach from the governor’s office.—
Brian Jones,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Brouk & Co Pearl Travel Jewelry Case Admittedly, my jewelry is often treated as an afterthought during travel, floating at the bottom of my toiletry bag or in a random duffel pocket.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Days after the window for FIFA’s latest ticketing phase — its random selection draw — closed Tuesday, the governing body’s ticketing strategy continues to face sharp criticism over prices and process.—
Eric Prisbell,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Small businesses are no longer accidental victims of attacks aimed at large enterprises.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The student deaths were ruled accidental in nature and likely due to a problem with the vehicle’s exhaust, according to the police chief.—
Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His suicide was collective murder in which the Iranian public were inadvertent participants.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Chaston Ditta threw two second-half touchdown passes, and East Carolina overcame an inadvertent whistle that negated a long touchdown in a 23-17 victory over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl on Saturday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The experience in Illinois shows that these kinds of failures are not isolated or incidental.—
Sheila Weinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Venezuela dictator Nicolas Maduro is a lucky man.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The red carpet has wrapped, the awards have been bestowed to the lucky few, and the acceptance speeches have been given.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The result of an unplanned pregnancy, born several years after her three older siblings, Janet had always felt disconnected from the momentum of her family.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In December, one Starlink satellite experienced an unexpected malfunction and began an unplanned descent.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chancy. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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