dicey

[dahy-see]

adjective

Informal.

dicier, diciest 

1. unpredictable; risky; uncertain.

dicey

/ ˈdaɪsɪ /

adjective

1. difficult or dangerous; risky; tricky

Word History and Origins

Origin of dicey¹

First recorded in 1935–40; dice + -ey ¹

Example Sentences

The rain — heavy and steady for days — was needed but deadly, providing relief from dry conditions but causing danger from mudslides, dicey roads and falling trees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Why, for that matter, were Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s willing to bless 80 percent of a pool of dicey mortgage loans with the same triple-A rating they bestowed on the debts of the U.S.

Read more on Literature

A December rate cut “is a little dicier than markets have it right now. You’re hanging a lot on the slowdown in nonfarm payrolls,” he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Figuring out the path of inflation from here gets dicier, especially if the federal government remains shut down.

Read more on Barron's

But for hikers trapped near the eastern face of Everest, the return was much dicier.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ticklish 
• tricky 
• uncertain 
• unpredictable