dicey

USAGE SUMMARY

"dicey" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective describing something that is risky or uncertain. For example, "The current political situation is becoming increasingly dicey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Gaël Clichy's meek defending when James Perch scored Wigan's second probably illustrates why Pellegrini prefers Aleksander Kolarov, who is not immune to the odd dicey moment, while Joleon Lescott, making a rare appearance, was also shaky.

The Guardian - Sport

This week America's Department of Energy DOEE) also increased its estimate of world demand for 2004.In this section The bonds from Brazil Frothy From Cancún to can-do Rainy day Rocking the boat Now for the hard part The stuff of life ReprintsMeanwhile, the supply picture looks dicey, thanks to OPEC.

The Economist

But they lost that bid because three-quarters of the places at the failing school were empty, and the local authority planned to roll a number of dicey primaries into a single big one.

The Economist

In Washington, DC, turning left on a main road can be dicey if drivers are not patient.

The Economist

"They have a different view of risk than the rest of us," says one banker, who says Deutsche has plumped for deals his firm considered too dicey.

The Economist

That would mean much more low-carbon generation (see chart).Yet the high cost of building reactors makes them dicey investments.

The Economist

Some 20 Indian movies a year are partly filmed on British soil, usually around London but sometimes as far afield as the Scottish Highlands, which occasionally doubles as Kashmir when the real thing is too dicey.

The Economist

The public schools are still dicey, but most people think it is Mayor Daley's job to fix them.

The Economist

Port and railway auctions still look dicey: in both cases regulatory muddle means a high chance of lengthy court battles and construction hold-ups.

The Economist

However, that contribution came at a cost: a book of some 700,000 dicey loans worth roughly $100 billion.Those mortgages are now going sour.

The Economist

The lights are dimming, but green targets are an argument against new coal plants, security-of-supply concerns make gas dicey, lack of time rules out nuclear, and worries about practicality dog renewables.The situation is so bad that many former fans are openly questioning Britain's hands-off approach to energy, which it has spent the past decade trying to export, particularly to Europe.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Incorporate it when discussing financial trends, political climates or social interactions where the outcome is balanced on a knife-edge.

Common error

While "dicey" is grammatically correct and widely used in top-tier journalism, it can occasionally feel too colloquial for highly formal scientific or academic research. In those cases, consider using "precarious" or "uncertain" instead.

Linguistic Context

As an adjective, "dicey" functions as a qualifier for nouns that represent situations, outcomes or physical paths. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to denote that a specific state of affairs is fraught with danger or uncertainty. It often appears after linking verbs like 'be', 'look' or 'seem'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Social Media

2%

Academic

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "dicey" is a versatile and highly effective adjective for describing risky or uncertain scenarios. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across elite editorial platforms, particularly when discussing economics and global politics. While it carries a slightly more colorful tone than clinical synonyms like "unsafe", it remains a staple for professional writers who want to convey complexity and doubt. Its roots in the concept of 'throwing the dice' perfectly capture the essence of a situation where the final result is left to chance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

risky

Standard and more direct synonym for any situation involving potential loss

dodgy

More informal and often implies a sense of dishonesty or poor quality alongside the risk

precarious

A more formal term focusing on the lack of stability or security

chancy

Closer in tone to the main query but used less frequently in modern writing

perilous

Describes a much higher level of physical or immediate danger

shaky

Focuses on the lack of a solid foundation or reliable evidence

touch-and-go

An idiomatic expression describing a situation with an extremely uncertain outcome

unpredictable

Emphasizes the inability to foresee the end result rather than the inherent danger

tenuous

Suggests a very weak or slight connection or position

hazardous

A technical or formal term often used regarding health, safety or environment

FAQs

How to use "dicey" in a sentence?

You can use "dicey" to describe any situation where the outcome is in doubt or carries risk. For example, Ludwig provides examples like "The current political situation is becoming increasingly "dicey"."

What can I say instead of "dicey"?

You can use alternatives like "risky", "dodgy", or "chancy" depending on the context.

Is "dicey" considered formal English?

It is best described as neutral to informal. While it appears in high-quality publications like The Economist, it is less common in strictly formal legal or scientific documents where "hazardous" might be preferred.

What is the difference between "dicey" and "dangerous"?

While "dangerous" implies a high probability of harm, "dicey" focuses more on the uncertainty and the 'gamble' involved in a situation.