adjective
dicey
DEYE-see
Dicey (adjective) means Risky or unpredictable; likely to go wrong. Example: “Driving on that icy road felt pretty dicey.”
adjective
1
Risky or unpredictable; likely to go wrong.
"Driving on that icy road felt pretty dicey."
"The whole plan seemed dicey from the start."
How to use dicey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a situation that feels unsafe or unreliable, where the outcome is far from guaranteed.
When to use it
Informal — common in everyday speech, not formal writing.
Common pairings
a dicey situation
feel dicey
a bit dicey
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Word forms
- Comparative
- dicier
- Superlative
- diciest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Driving on that icy road felt pretty _____.
Etymology
From dice + -y — something as unpredictable as a roll of the dice.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dicey
See all rhymes for dicey →Frequently asked questions
What does “dicey” mean?
The word “dicey” means risky or unpredictable; likely to go wrong. In plain terms, describes a situation that feels unsafe or unreliable, where the outcome is far from guaranteed.
How do you pronounce “dicey”?
“Dicey” is pronounced DEYE-see (/ˈdaɪsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “dicey” in a sentence?
Here is “dicey” used in a sentence: “Driving on that icy road felt pretty dicey.”
What is another word for “dicey”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dicey” include chancy and iffy.
What part of speech is “dicey”?
“Dicey” is an adjective.
