What is another word for uncertain?
Synonyms for uncertain
ʌnˈsɜr tnun·cer·tain
This thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word uncertain.
Wiktionary
English Synonyms and Antonyms
uncertain
Equivocal (Latin equus, equal, and vox, voice, word) denotes that which may equally well be understood in either of two or more ways. Ambiguous (Latin ambi, around, and ago, drive, lead) signifies lacking in distinctness or certainty, obscure or doubtful through indefiniteness of expression. Ambiguous is applied only to spoken or written statements; equivocal has other applications. A statement is ambiguous when it leaves the mind of the reader or hearer to fluctuate between two meanings, which would fit the language equally well; it is equivocal when it would naturally be understood in one way, but is capable of a different interpretation; an equivocal expression is, as a rule, intentionally deceptive, while an ambiguous utterance may be simply the result of a want either of clear thought or of adequate expression. That which is enigmatical must be guessed like a riddle; a statement may be purposely made enigmatical in order to provoke thought and study. That is doubtful which is fairly open to doubt; that is dubious which has become the subject of doubts so grave as scarcely to fall short of condemnation; as, a dubious reputation. Questionable may be used nearly in the sense either of dubious or of doubtful; a questionable statement is one that must be proved before it can be accepted. To say that one's honesty is questionable is a mild way of saying that in the opinion of the speaker he is likely to prove dishonest. Equivocal is sometimes, tho more rarely, used in this sense. A suspicious character gives manifest reason to be suspected; a suspicious temper is inclined to suspect the motives and intentions of others, with or without reason. Compare CLEAR.
Synonyms:
ambiguous, doubtful, dubious, enigmatic, enigmatical, equivocal, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, obscure, perplexing, questionable, suspiciousAntonyms:
certain, clear, distinct, evident, indisputable, indubitable, lucid, manifest, obvious, perspicuous, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal, unquestionable, unquestioned
Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms
uncertain
Synonyms:
doubtful, dubious, questionable, fitful, equivocal, ambiguous, indistinct, variable, fluctuating
Princeton's WordNet
uncertain, unsure, incertainadjective
lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
"uncertain of his convictions"; "unsure of himself and his future"; "moving with uncertain (or unsure) steps"; "an uncertain smile"; "touched the ornaments with uncertain fingers"
Synonyms:
changeable, diffident, timid, shy, unsealed, unsure, unsettled, incertainAntonyms:
destined, predestinate, doomed, certain, sure, indisputable, reliable, dependable, invariable, fated, confident(p), foreordained, unambiguous, certain(p), convinced(p), positive(p), sure as shooting, definite, in for(p), predestined, bound(p)uncertainadjective
not established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown
"an uncertain future"; "a manuscript of uncertain origin"; "plans are still uncertain"; "changes of great if uncertain consequences"; "without further evidence his story must remain uncertain"
Synonyms:
unsealed, incertain, unsettled, changeable, unsureAntonyms:
confident(p), foreordained, reliable, destined, convinced(p), in for(p), indisputable, dependable, positive(p), unambiguous, doomed, definite, sure as shooting, bound(p), sure, certain, fated, predestined, invariable, certain(p), predestinateunsealed, uncertainadjective
not established or confirmed
"his doom is as yet unsealed"
Synonyms:
unsealed, incertain, unsettled, changeable, unsureAntonyms:
predestinate, dependable, confident(p), sure as shooting, reliable, in for(p), certain, bound(p), fated, doomed, certain(p), invariable, foreordained, predestined, definite, positive(p), unambiguous, sure, indisputable, convinced(p), destineduncertainadjective
not certain to occur; not inevitable
"everything is uncertain about the army"; "the issue is uncertain"
Synonyms:
unsealed, incertain, unsettled, changeable, unsureAntonyms:
in for(p), invariable, certain(p), positive(p), sure, destined, bound(p), fated, unambiguous, dependable, predestinate, doomed, predestined, definite, convinced(p), reliable, confident(p), sure as shooting, indisputable, certain, foreordainedchangeable, uncertain, unsettledadjective
subject to change
"a changeable climate"; "the weather is uncertain"; "unsettled weather with rain and hail and sunshine coming one right after the other"
Synonyms:
changeable, mutable, shot, unsure, iridescent, changeful, chatoyant, unsealed, unsettled, incertainAntonyms:
reliable, fated, sure, dependable, certain(p), predestined, in for(p), certain, sure as shooting, positive(p), destined, unambiguous, convinced(p), indisputable, bound(p), confident(p), doomed, predestinate, invariable, definite, foreordaineduncertainadjective
not consistent or dependable
"an uncertain recollection of events"; "a gun with a rather uncertain trigger"
Synonyms:
unsealed, incertain, unsettled, changeable, unsureAntonyms:
predestinate, dependable, reliable, convinced(p), foreordained, definite, doomed, confident(p), fated, sure, positive(p), destined, bound(p), in for(p), invariable, unambiguous, indisputable, predestined, certain(p), certain, sure as shootinguncertainadjective
ambiguous (especially in the negative)
"she spoke in no uncertain terms"
Synonyms:
unsealed, incertain, unsettled, changeable, unsureAntonyms:
sure as shooting, predestined, convinced(p), indisputable, in for(p), dependable, predestinate, positive(p), invariable, confident(p), doomed, sure, definite, certain(p), reliable, bound(p), destined, certain, unambiguous, foreordained, fated
Dictionary of English Synonymes
uncertainadjective
Synonyms:
equivocal, doubtful, dubious, unsettled, indistinct, ambiguous, indefinite, questionableuncertainadjective
Synonyms:
unreliable, insecure, precarious, problematicaluncertainadjective
Synonyms:
not sure, not confidentuncertainadjective
Synonyms:
irregular, unpunctual, capricious, desultory, fitful, variable, changeable, mutable, slippery, shaky, not uniform
Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words
uncertainadjective
Synonyms:
distrustful, hesitating, dubious, precarious, problematical, insecure, equivocal, ambiguous, indefinite, irresolute, inconstant, fickle, variable, capricious, fallible
PPDB, the paraphrase database
List of paraphrases for "uncertain":
precarious, insecure, unsure, unconfirmed, unclear, uncertainty, unsafe, doubtful, random, dubious, unstable, vague, shaky, questionable, volatile, unknown, unsettled, unpredictable, ambiguous
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
- [["1515","6"],["1524","1"],["1541","2"],["1563","4"],["1572","6"],["1579","4"],["1581","6"],["1582","10"],["1584","1"],["1590","8"],["1595","1"],["1600","7"],["1607","7"],["1611","2"],["1620","2"],["1621","1"],["1624","3"],["1626","1"],["1635","6"],["1637","2"],["1644","17"],["1645","12"],["1647","3"],["1648","6"],["1649","5"],["1650","2"],["1651","19"],["1652","2"],["1653","3"],["1654","2"],["1655","18"],["1656","20"],["1657","7"],["1658","22"],["1659","10"],["1660","2"],["1661","14"],["1662","13"],["1663","8"],["1664","12"],["1665","1"],["1666","25"],["1667","23"],["1668","36"],["1669","15"],["1670","16"],["1671","5"],["1672","4"],["1673","47"],["1674","6"],["1675","64"],["1676","74"],["1677","28"],["1678","77"],["1679","32"],["1680","38"],["1681","58"],["1682","77"],["1683","83"],["1684","27"],["1685","86"],["1686","48"],["1687","25"],["1688","101"],["1689","29"],["1690","70"],["1691","7"],["1692","39"],["1693","29"],["1694","64"],["1695","57"],["1696","34"],["1697","39"],["1698","83"],["1699","174"],["1700","113"],["1701","181"],["1702","182"],["1703","126"],["1704","168"],["1705","141"],["1706","238"],["1707","206"],["1708","226"],["1709","107"],["1710","240"],["1711","235"],["1712","163"],["1713","129"],["1714","362"],["1715","188"],["1716","178"],["1717","296"],["1718","169"],["1719","183"],["1720","398"],["1721","148"],["1722","523"],["1723","178"],["1724","249"],["1725","305"],["1726","241"],["1727","436"],["1728","405"],["1729","397"],["1730","299"],["1731","463"],["1732","303"],["1733","193"],["1734","348"],["1735","302"],["1736","188"],["1737","363"],["1738","421"],["1739","360"],["1740","350"],["1741","252"],["1742","320"],["1743","340"],["1744","421"],["1745","205"],["1746","187"],["1747","375"],["1748","549"],["1749","367"],["1750","546"],["1751","656"],["1752","470"],["1753","721"],["1754","679"],["1755","689"],["1756","323"],["1757","511"],["1758","520"],["1759","631"],["1760","398"],["1761","471"],["1762","278"],["1763","507"],["1764","620"],["1765","425"],["1766","778"],["1767","744"],["1768","924"],["1769","444"],["1770","709"],["1771","604"],["1772","551"],["1773","540"],["1774","611"],["1775","850"],["1776","799"],["1777","646"],["1778","615"],["1779","527"],["1780","591"],["1781","594"],["1782","677"],["1783","568"],["1784","660"],["1785","756"],["1786","805"],["1787","1352"],["1788","1294"],["1789","1149"],["1790","1107"],["1791","1666"],["1792","1680"],["1793","1590"],["1794","1499"],["1795","1237"],["1796","1565"],["1797","1205"],["1798","1241"],["1799","1249"],["1800","1733"],["1801","3216"],["1802","2509"],["1803","2924"],["1804","3265"],["1805","3242"],["1806","3196"],["1807","3159"],["1808","3203"],["1809","3535"],["1810","3673"],["1811","4375"],["1812","4450"],["1813","3781"],["1814","4418"],["1815","3935"],["1816","3943"],["1817","4406"],["1818","5317"],["1819","4144"],["1820","6030"],["1821","4150"],["1822","7258"],["1823","6946"],["1824","7610"],["1825","8903"],["1826","6698"],["1827","6324"],["1828","7154"],["1829","7710"],["1830","9470"],["1831","7339"],["1832","7099"],["1833","7542"],["1834","7117"],["1835","8070"],["1836","8359"],["1837","8119"],["1838","8229"],["1839","9521"],["1840","9848"],["1841","8977"],["1842","8093"],["1843","8318"],["1844","8859"],["1845","10228"],["1846","10775"],["1847","10256"],["1848","10054"],["1849","10081"],["1850","11216"],["1851","12016"],["1852","12679"],["1853","13168"],["1854","14829"],["1855","12542"],["1856","13318"],["1857","11983"],["1858","11224"],["1859","11734"],["1860","12587"],["1861","9109"],["1862","8156"],["1863","9103"],["1864","10270"],["1865","9538"],["1866","11175"],["1867","10225"],["1868","10695"],["1869","11342"],["1870","11679"],["1871","11692"],["1872","11512"],["1873","11847"],["1874","13571"],["1875","13331"],["1876","14392"],["1877","13351"],["1878","13960"],["1879","13896"],["1880","15847"],["1881","16634"],["1882","17212"],["1883","18473"],["1884","17564"],["1885","17763"],["1886","15466"],["1887","15974"],["1888","15790"],["1889","15939"],["1890","15731"],["1891","17115"],["1892","20201"],["1893","17964"],["1894","18153"],["1895","20539"],["1896","21099"],["1897","20427"],["1898","22724"],["1899","23940"],["1900","27248"],["1901","25477"],["1902","25599"],["1903","24804"],["1904","27547"],["1905","25785"],["1906","27638"],["1907","28627"],["1908","27495"],["1909","25890"],["1910","26901"],["1911","27754"],["1912","27560"],["1913","26109"],["1914","24770"],["1915","21857"],["1916","22389"],["1917","21315"],["1918","18654"],["1919","21416"],["1920","25866"],["1921","22876"],["1922","26807"],["1923","22625"],["1924","20112"],["1925","21420"],["1926","19936"],["1927","23714"],["1928","22880"],["1929","21605"],["1930","24049"],["1931","23385"],["1932","20787"],["1933","17635"],["1934","21490"],["1935","22555"],["1936","22785"],["1937","23286"],["1938","22419"],["1939","24839"],["1940","21556"],["1941","19556"],["1942","18082"],["1943","14387"],["1944","13890"],["1945","15488"],["1946","21812"],["1947","24062"],["1948","26889"],["1949","28262"],["1950","28382"],["1951","28917"],["1952","30085"],["1953","28425"],["1954","28668"],["1955","31275"],["1956","31521"],["1957","34966"],["1958","36277"],["1959","36255"],["1960","42169"],["1961","44810"],["1962","49570"],["1963","52041"],["1964","50968"],["1965","58701"],["1966","59968"],["1967","62996"],["1968","71754"],["1969","69810"],["1970","72396"],["1971","71736"],["1972","72188"],["1973","68789"],["1974","67302"],["1975","70838"],["1976","72457"],["1977","73599"],["1978","75242"],["1979","80046"],["1980","78207"],["1981","78717"],["1982","83218"],["1983","84944"],["1984","89551"],["1985","91665"],["1986","98393"],["1987","97496"],["1988","100515"],["1989","106581"],["1990","114900"],["1991","110061"],["1992","121595"],["1993","119256"],["1994","125175"],["1995","130060"],["1996","135626"],["1997","138879"],["1998","143284"],["1999","150788"],["2000","167554"],["2001","169528"],["2002","184716"],["2003","199589"],["2004","216436"],["2005","211080"],["2006","228319"],["2007","246038"],["2008","314310"]]
Words popularity by usage frequency
| ranking | word | |
|---|---|---|
| #1702 | unknown | |
| #1866 | random | |
| #1967 | shot | |
| #2319 | variable | |
| #7863 | uncertainty | |
| #10488 | unstable | |
| #11163 | shy | |
| #11666 | uncertain | |
| #12828 | volatile | |
| #12929 | unclear | |
| #13349 | unsure | |
| #13380 | obscure | |
| #13890 | suspicious | |
| #14437 | vague | |
| #15385 | questionable | |
| #16845 | unsafe | |
| #17795 | ambiguous | |
| #18829 | unpredictable | |
| #20066 | doubtful | |
| #20069 | insecure | |
| #22231 | indefinite | |
| #23071 | dubious | |
| #30673 | shaky | |
| #33672 | timid | |
| #34136 | unconfirmed | |
| #36208 | indeterminate | |
| #36221 | changeable | |
| #37328 | precarious | |
| #37424 | enigmatic | |
| #39085 | fluctuating | |
| #40835 | unsettled | |
| #43888 | iridescent | |
| #50076 | mutable | |
| #53854 | perplexing | |
| #62046 | unsealed | |
| #67973 | indistinct | |
| #70807 | equivocal | |
| #119226 | fitful | |
| #165988 | diffident |
How to use uncertain in a sentence?
The share price volatility shows that investors are uncertain about market fundamentals in the near term following a strong start to the year.
In such uncertain times, we can't think of anyone better than Leslie Knope to unite our country with her unbridled enthusiasm and compassion, a huge thank you to Mike Schur and the cast of' Parks and Recreation' for putting this wonderful special together and bringing a smile to all our faces while raising money for such a worthwhile cause.
Obviously the election surprised everybody and we had to adjust in the story room, we did a lot of work trying to figure in this idea that Donald Trump was now the president, and it became quickly apparent then that a lot of stuff that was happening in the real world was [more uncertain] than what we were dramatizing.
A major management overhaul could have triggered greater confusion at a time when market conditions are uncertain.
Although the measures seem to be working, and the infection rates are somewhat lower, the situation is still uncertain.
Translations for uncertain
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- incertCatalan, Valencian
- nejistýCzech
- ungewiss, unsicher, unbeständig, unbestimmtGerman
- necertaEsperanto
- inciertoSpanish
- epävarma, kyseenalainen, arvaamaton, epävakaaFinnish
- incertainFrench
- mì-chinnteachScottish Gaelic
- bizonytalanHungarian
- გაურკვეველიGeorgian
- មិនប្រាកដប្រជាKhmer
- harapuka, ngākaurua, taupetupetuMāori
- nieokreślony, niezdecydowany, niepewnyPolish
- incert, nedecis, neregulat, nestatornic, instabili, inconstant, imprevizibili, variabil, imprevizibil, instabil, indecis, nesiguri, nesigur, nestabilRomanian
- непостоя́нный, изме́нчивый, неусто́йчивый, непредсказу́емый, неуве́ренный, нея́сный, неопределённый, нестаби́льныйRussian
- நிச்சயமற்றதுTamil
Get even more translations for uncertain »
Translation
Find a translation for the uncertain synonym in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Citation
Use the citation below to add these synonyms to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"uncertain." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LTD, 2026. Web. 25 Jul 2026. <https://www.synonyms.com/synonym/uncertain>.






Discuss these uncertain synonyms with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In