uncertainty

uncertainty
noun Date: 14th century 1. the quality or state of being uncertain ; doubt 2. something that is uncertain Synonyms: uncertainty, doubt, dubiety, skepticism, suspicion, mistrust mean lack of sureness about someone or something. uncertainty may range from a falling short of certainty to an almost complete lack of conviction or knowledge especially about an outcome or result <
assumed the role of manager without hesitation or uncertainty
>
. doubt suggests both uncertainty and inability to make a decision <
plagued by doubts as to what to do
>
. dubiety stresses a wavering between conclusions <
felt some dubiety about its practicality
>
. skepticism implies unwillingness to believe without conclusive evidence <
an economic forecast greeted with skepticism
>
. suspicion stresses lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone <
regarded the stranger with suspicion
>
. mistrust implies a genuine doubt based upon suspicion <
had a great mistrust of doctors
>
.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • uncertainty — uncertainty, doubt, dubiety, dubiosity, skepticism, suspicion, mistrust can all mean a feeling of unsureness about someone or something. Uncertainty stresses the lack of certainty or certitude that may range from a mere falling short of these to… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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  • uncertainty — [un sʉrt′ ntē] n. [ME uncerteynte] 1. lack of certainty; doubt 2. pl. uncertainties something uncertain SYN. UNCERTAINTY ranges in implication from a mere lack of absolute sureness [uncertainty about a date of birth ] to such vagueness as to… …   English World dictionary

  • Uncertainty — Solicita una imagen para este artículo. Título Uncertainty Ficha técnica …   Wikipedia Español

  • Uncertainty — Un*cer tain*ty, n.; pl. {Uncertainties}. [1913 Webster] 1. The quality or state of being uncertain. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is uncertain; something unknown. [1913 Webster] Our shepherd s case is every man s case that quits a moral certainty… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Uncertainty — est un film américain sorti en 2008 de style drame/thriller, écrit, produit et réalisé par Scott McGehee et David Siegel, deux réalisateurs indépendent. Les personnages principaux sont interprétés par Lynn Collins et Joseph Gordon Levitt. Il a… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • uncertainty — I noun ambiguity, ambivalence, chance, confusion, contingency, darkness, desultoriness, dilemma, dimness, doubt, doubtfulness, dubiousness, equivocation, faintness, feebleness, gamble, hazard, hesitancy, hesitation, improbability, incertitude,… …   Law dictionary

  • uncertainty — late 14c., from UNCERTAIN (Cf. uncertain) + TY (Cf. ty) …   Etymology dictionary

  • uncertainty — [n] doubt, changeableness ambiguity, ambivalence, anxiety, bewilderment, concern, confusion, conjecture, contingency, dilemma, disquiet, distrust, doubtfulness, dubiety, guesswork, hesitancy, hesitation, incertitude, inconclusiveness, indecision …   New thesaurus

  • uncertainty — ► NOUN (pl. uncertainties) 1) the state of being uncertain. 2) something that is uncertain or causes one to feel uncertain …   English terms dictionary

  • Uncertainty — For the film of the same name, see Uncertainty (film). Certainty series Agnosticism Belief Certainty Doubt Determinism Epistemology …   Wikipedia

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