as in maybe
it is possible
perchance he is playing the devil's advocate, and the opinions he has expressed are not actually his own
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Recent Examples of perchance
Because any driver worth their salt would figure this out and likely after perchance one time falling into this bit of a roadway trap, would avoid going that way entirely.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2021
To sleep, perchance to heal A report in the journal Nature Communications adds to the list of sleep’s benefits.
—Magnus Wennman, National Geographic, 17 June 2019
To sleep, perchance to dream of a giant plate of nachos.
—Gray Chapman, SELF, 27 Mar. 2019
Its members liked to call themselves kleagles, goblins and other names of darkling potency, to meet in solemn 'konklaves,' burn a fiery cross upon a distant hill and, perchance, frighten a Negro child outnumbered 100 to 1.
—The Washington Post, AL.com, 10 Apr. 2018
Ah, to sleep, perchance … to shrink your neural connections?
—Christopher Wanjek, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2017
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2021
To sleep, perchance to heal A report in the journal Nature Communications adds to the list of sleep’s benefits.
—Magnus Wennman, National Geographic, 17 June 2019
To sleep, perchance to dream of a giant plate of nachos.
—Gray Chapman, SELF, 27 Mar. 2019
Its members liked to call themselves kleagles, goblins and other names of darkling potency, to meet in solemn 'konklaves,' burn a fiery cross upon a distant hill and, perchance, frighten a Negro child outnumbered 100 to 1.
—The Washington Post, AL.com, 10 Apr. 2018
Ah, to sleep, perchance … to shrink your neural connections?
—Christopher Wanjek, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perchance
Adverb
-
The plan entails flipping Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska and maybe even Texas and Iowa.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Taaffee is slightly bigger than Jones at 6-0 and 198 and regarded similarly heading into the draft or perhaps a bit lower – maybe a Day 3 guy but could slide up like Jones did.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Agents in the industry think United might need more overall, possibly a surplus of three players from the numbers now.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Tamarack said the eaglet could possibly return to its nest within about one week and is expected to be accepted back by its parents.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
As a teen-ager listening to folk music in London pubs, I’d been attracted to the instrument’s nimble, tinkling cheerfulness, its being on the margins, not too demanding, perhaps.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
After the first sunny spring day, Parisians have officially packed up their winter wardrobe and replaced knits and boots with breezy trench coats and elegant ballerina flats—a look the French are perhaps most famous for.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Tampa landed an instant impact guy in this range last year in WR Emeka Egbuka and probably just did it again with Bain.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Then Ramos stepped to the plate in a situation where the Highlanders were probably expecting a bunt, Calderon said.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perchance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perchance. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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