Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Not known or established; questionable: domestic changes of great if uncertain consequences.
- adj. Not determined; undecided: uncertain plans.
- adj. Not having sure knowledge: an uncertain recollection of the sequence of events.
- adj. Subject to change; variable: uncertain weather.
- adj. Unsteady; fitful: uncertain light.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Not certain; doubtful. Not known in regard to nature, qualities, or general character.
- Not known as regards quantity or extent; indefinite; problematical: as, an uncertain number of independent voters; a person of uncertain age.
- Having doubts; without certain knowledge; not sure.
- Not sure as to aim or effect desired.
- Unreliable; insecure; not to be depended on.
- Not firm or fixed; vague; indeterminate in nature; fluctuating.
- Undecided; hesitating; not resolved.
- Not steady; fitful.
- Liable to change; fickle; inconstant; capricious; irresolute.
- To make or cause to be uncertain.
Wiktionary
- adj. not known for certain; questionable
- adj. not yet determined; undecided
- adj. variable and subject to change
- adj. fitful or unsteady
- adj. unpredictable or capricious
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Not certain; not having certain knowledge; not assured in mind; distrustful.
- adj. Irresolute; inconsonant; variable; untrustworthy.
- adj. Questionable; equivocal; indefinite; problematical.
- adj. Not sure; liable to fall or err; fallible.
- v. obsolete To make uncertain.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. not established or confirmed
- adj. not established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown
- adj. ambiguous (especially in the negative)
- adj. subject to change
- adj. not certain to occur; not inevitable
- adj. not consistent or dependable
- adj. lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
Etymologies
- un- + certain (Wiktionary)
Examples
“Analysts were reluctant to make predictions beyond one month because of what they described as an uncertain economic outlook given the central bank's ongoing efforts to tame inflation and as a string of interest-rate increases and other measures begin to bite.”
The Wall Street Journal: Growth Worries to Plague Chinese Shares
“Most advanced economies are planning "significant fiscal adjustment" this year in what he described as an "uncertain economic environment.”
The Wall Street Journal: IMF Deputy Says Japan Can Learn From Euro Crisis
“Kroger Co. reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 27% on higher costs and offered a cautious outlook for the year amid what it described as the uncertain pace of economic recovery and tough price competition.”
“Then he paused and drew back, his expression uncertain.”
“He seemed at times to assume he already had won the nomination, repeatedly using his questions to direct fire not at his rivals but at President Obama for what he called uncertain and even dangerous leadership.”
“Many high school teachers remain uncertain who is right about letting into AP, IB or”
The Washington Post: High schoolers barred from college-level courses
“We are living in uncertain times, that is for sure.”
“Foreign capital has flooded into the U.S., which apparently remains a safe haven, at least for now, in uncertain times.”
“What remains uncertain is whether their enthusiasm for renewable energy will carry over into graduate school and lead them to swell the ranks of Americans with advanced science and engineering degrees.”
“While Silicon Valley-based Kleiner made its reputation as a financier of tech startups like Netscape, Lane confided that they are inherently risky ventures in uncertain, fast-moving markets.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘uncertain’.
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Dominant/Submissive
abusive, adamant, autocratic, bossy, bullheaded, bumptious, certain, cock-a-hoop, cocksure, cocky, commanding, compelling and 189 more...
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Home Sweet Home
Actual Towns and Cities with Poetic Names.
If you know where the town is located please put that in the comments. All of mine came out of a zip code directory.phlox, blue mountain, battles wharf, robinwood, blue spring, coffee springs, cottage hill, hazel green, highland home, sunflower, three notch, circle and 94 more...
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RBC: Adjectives for Henry's Ma
Our class list of adjectives for Henry's Ma.
determined, cautious, disappointed, uncertain, wise, stubborn, passionate, unsupportive, forgiving, firm, honest, dishonest and 36 more...
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Words
My list of words.
veritable, facetious, nadir, quixotic, apropos, acquiesce, ostensible, insipid, egregious, inveterate, coax, adroit and 409 more...
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Miss Sunshine
she's such a joy.
bereaved, bitter, cheerless, dejected, depressed, despairing, despondent, disconsolate, dismal, distressed, doleful, downcast and 405 more...
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classic695's Words
delighted, elated, energetic, excited, enthusiastic, elevated, happy, contented, fine, pleased, satisfied, compassionate and 168 more...
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Basic English Vocabulary
Very basic words for ESL students.
a, abandon, ability, able, abortion, about, above, abroad, absence, absolute, absolutely, absorb and 4334 more...
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ulyssean
... as in "by James Joyce"
stately, plump, aloft, gurgling, untonsured, chrysostomos, jowl, parapet, jesuit, indigestion, scutter, noserag and 688 more...
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feeling words
twitterpated, loquacious, ambiguous, pensive, sluggish, anxious, adventurous, curious, abandoned, absent-minded, abrasive, abused and 653 more...
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Expressions
(Facial)
pained, pitiful, reproachful, annoyed, dismissive, excited, eager, spiteful, contemptuous, passive, calm, nervous and 155 more...
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my dictionary
able, abnormally, abroad, absent, abstract, acceptable, acceptance, access, accessible, accession, according to, account and 4551 more...
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I am
considering, ruined, troubled, worried, frustrated, negative, depressing, depressed, depression, sick, exhausted, alone and 59 more...
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confused
Tweets
Looking for tweets for uncertain.
treeseed a town in Texas, USA Feb 26, 2008
brtom Mr Dedalus, peering through his glasses towards the veiled sun, hurled a mute curse at the sky.
-- It's as uncertain as a child's bottom, he said.
Joyce, Ulysses, 6 Dec 31, 2006