CHANCES Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

chances 1 of 2

noun

plural of chance

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

as in opportunities

a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place this is my one chance to succeed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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as in gambles

a risky undertaking it's a chance, but I think the business will be profitable

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sure things

chances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of chance

as in risks

to take a chance on I don't think we should chance driving in this snowstorm

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of chances

Noun

Fans are cautious about discussing UCLA’s chances of making the College Football Playoff, despite the Bruins becoming the last undefeated team in the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference. — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 Though that doesn’t mean the Texas head coach is ready to risk the chances of them making the CFP if Arch cannot show progress in the first half on Saturday. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The Miami Dolphins have 12 more chances to avoid book-ending the 1972 Perfect Season with the Imperfect Season, becoming the first team in NFL history to go 0-17. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026 Both of Messi’s goals came from the legend’s mastery of creating chances out of nothing. — Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026 The week ahead will bring plenty of chances to flip the script. — Zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026 The Commanders inexplicably ran the clock out on themselves in field-goal range and had to settle for a tie against the Giants, who wasted two chances to win in overtime. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 California voters have up to three chances to fix a mistake on their ballot, including by exchanging it at the county elections office or indicating the correction directly on the original ballot without initialing it. — Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Swift is not alone in splitting her chances with different submissions. — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

Some models bring the moisture in Tuesday, increasing rain chances Tuesday afternoon and evening, the weather service said. — Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026 Clouds return Monday along with minimal rain chances thanks to a weak front. — Joseph Dames, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 On prediction market platform Kalshi, chances for a hike in October stood at just 18%, down from almost 70% a week ago. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 Rain chances midweek Southeast Texas will be on the receiving end of moisture from two sources, according to forecasters. — Roberto Villalpando, Houston Chronicle, 27 Sep. 2026 After dark, chances rise to 90% and the totals could exceed a half an inch, forecasters say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026 Highs are expected in the upper 80s and the rain chances for the week through Sunday hover around the 80% range — especially Wednesday when the weather service puts storm chances at 88%. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026 Rain chances in Central Florida climb to 80% on Labor Day with temperatures in the 90s, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2026 Rain chances along the storm's path remain over 60% on Wednesday, according to weather service forecasts. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chances

Noun

And, in the case of the continent’s richest man Aliko Dangote, the conflict has proven the old adage that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles star as the down-on-their-luck Dashwood sisters, who are forced to move from their fine family estate into the decidedly more modest Barton Cottage.

— Nicholas DeRenzo, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of luck

Noun

The court also found that families in many rural counties have substantially fewer opportunities to use EdChoice vouchers.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The event, for golfers and non-golfers, will include golf instruction, interactive activities, music, food and opportunities to connect with founders Ajanaku and Cooper, community leaders, local organizations, and others.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of opportunities

Noun

Second, Kalshi's own election markets will have Brier scores, which will measure the accuracy of the market's probabilities versus actual outcomes.

— Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Sleeper also features dynamic payout scaling based on individual player probabilities, as well as classic Daily Drafts for real-time snake drafting.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of probabilities

Noun

While the human might try big gambles to come back from a significant deficit, Ataraxos would work its way back into the game slowly and methodically.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026
On fourth-and-6 from the Poinciana 48, Gateway Coach Marlin Roberts and gambles on the first play of the fourth quarter.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of gambles

Verb

If the person holding key intellectual property or leading the company risks losing status, immigration planning ceases to be a personal ordeal.

— Bernardo Saraiva, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
But even if the Election Commission is not systematically targeting voters based on their identity or their political preferences, the exercise still risks disenfranchising millions through sheer ineptitude.

— Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of risks

Verb

Researchers can model what happens if copper prices increase sharply or if a newer technology becomes commercially viable years from now.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
When that happens, per state law, the commissioner must either close the campus or take over the district.

— Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of happens

Noun

The goal is to spare residents the inconvenience of repeatedly visiting government offices, particularly when little has changed in their circumstances.

— Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
But now, there are no circumstances to be had, and the DP World Tour announced that LIV players are no longer welcome.

— Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026