1
as in luck
the uncertain course of events
rather than leave everything to chance, let's plan how we're going to spend our time in New York City
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in probabilities
a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another
the chance of being struck by lightning is very low
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in gambles
a risky undertaking
it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in risks
to take a chance on
I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in happens
to take place
there chanced to be a beautiful day when we were touring that part of Scotland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chances
Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
O'Brien escaped with his eighth save in 10 chances as the Cardinals won their third straight in a four-game series that ends Thursday.
—CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
In the wake of their second stoppage-time winner in Champions Cup this year, LAFC’s coach and players felt similar about their chances in the second leg.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Per the report, childhood obesity lowers someone’s chances of earning more than their parents down the line.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The problem is, the Bruins haven’t converted on chances enough to counter that.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
The Kings were desperate in this contest and had the more dangerous offensive chances early on.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
The Sabres outshot the B’s 13-9 in the first but the B’s had more Grade A chances in the first.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
One 2025 study, published in Nature Communications, found that the chances of particularly extreme fires has increased by up to 152 percent since 1900.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Early Apollo probabilistic assessments put loss-of-crew (LOC) chances around 1 in 10 for lunar missions.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
While rain chances linger and skies may stay mostly cloudy, temperatures will rebound into the mid-70s.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
The controversy may have negatively impacted Best Actor Oscar chances for his performance in Josh Safdie’s solo directing effort, Marty Supreme.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
Critics are no longer holding back, openly questioning how many chances Woods should get, and whether golf’s governing bodies have been too lenient for too long.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
By Wednesday, rain chances increase to about 70%, with a high near 65 and a low around 48.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Rain chances return by midweek, beginning late Tuesday.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
Rain chances in the Miami area are 20% Friday and Saturday, building to 30% Saturday night.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Helping its chances, Martin points out, is the fact that Ellison already has experience working with this administration to get regulatory approvals, having successfully completed the Skydance-Paramount merger in 2025.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
O'Brien escaped with his eighth save in 10 chances as the Cardinals won their third straight in a four-game series that ends Thursday.
—CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
In the wake of their second stoppage-time winner in Champions Cup this year, LAFC’s coach and players felt similar about their chances in the second leg.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Per the report, childhood obesity lowers someone’s chances of earning more than their parents down the line.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The problem is, the Bruins haven’t converted on chances enough to counter that.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
The Kings were desperate in this contest and had the more dangerous offensive chances early on.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
The Sabres outshot the B’s 13-9 in the first but the B’s had more Grade A chances in the first.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
One 2025 study, published in Nature Communications, found that the chances of particularly extreme fires has increased by up to 152 percent since 1900.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
The rain chances in South Florida over the next seven days.
—Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Early Apollo probabilistic assessments put loss-of-crew (LOC) chances around 1 in 10 for lunar missions.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 Apr. 2026
While rain chances linger and skies may stay mostly cloudy, temperatures will rebound into the mid-70s.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
The controversy may have negatively impacted Best Actor Oscar chances for his performance in Josh Safdie’s solo directing effort, Marty Supreme.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
Critics are no longer holding back, openly questioning how many chances Woods should get, and whether golf’s governing bodies have been too lenient for too long.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
By Wednesday, rain chances increase to about 70%, with a high near 65 and a low around 48.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Rain chances return by midweek, beginning late Tuesday.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
Rain chances in the Miami area are 20% Friday and Saturday, building to 30% Saturday night.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances
Noun
-
Afterwards, Slegers insisted the somewhat strange goals were not all about luck.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Injuries ravaged the group, disrupting any sense of continuity, and Albin is hoping for far better luck up front this year.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Creating more majority-Republican districts but with thinner margins could dilute GOP advantages and give Democrats more opportunities to win seats, especially if there’s an anti-Trump backlash at the polls this year.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
There’s that, plus the hundreds of thousands of stellar restaurants, outstanding shopping opportunities, and zany offbeat attractions that make the Japanese capital a wildly entertaining—and impeccably safe—destination for travelers of all kinds.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Both teams had playoff probabilities exceeding 85% just a few weeks ago.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
But while the civil court found the war crimes allegations were mostly proven on a balance of probabilities, the war crime murder charges would have to be proved in a criminal court to a higher standard of beyond reasonable doubt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, all draft choices are gambles.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Cheek initially runs towards the pass but gambles on the ball bouncing over the defender and runs behind him.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The trial risks complicating OpenAI's plans for a potential initial public offering by casting doubt on its leadership.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, Brockman and Altman could be dropped as officers, and Altman risks losing his seat on OpenAI’s board.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All the statute requires is that DHS solicit and receive other agencies' views; Congress left the Executive Branch to resolve how that process happens and how much detail other agencies provide.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
And when that happens, voters are left to question whether the outcome of an election reflects their voice or the lines that were drawn around it.—
Dan Daley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The circumstances were not the same, but the narrative sure could be.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Cody Bellinger added that various circumstances are taken into consideration.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The first human moon landing could then occur in 2028 during the Artemis IV mission, which would be the first of many astronaut ventures to the surface in the years ahead.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Compared to some of his other ventures, including pushing to bring psychedelics into the mainstream, German venture capitalist and Enhanced Games cofounder and executive chairman Christian Angermayer describes pulling it all off as a breeze.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chances. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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