dicey

adjective

dic·​ey ˈdī-sē How to pronounce dicey (audio)
dicier; diciest
Synonyms of diceynext
: risky, unpredictable
a dicey proposition
dicey weather

Examples of dicey in a Sentence

Starting a business can be quite a dicey proposition. The weather looks a little dicey this morning. I hope it doesn't rain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So, the Penguins find themselves in a dicey position. — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 June 2026 But the Avalanche have worked their way back from a similarly dicey situation before in a playoff series. — ABC News, 23 May 2026 This could be an even dicier option politically as seniors are a reliable bloc of voters and wield outsized influence in elections. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 28 June 2026 When things get dicey in Moscow, Vladimir Putin tends to drop out of sight for a while, retreating to one of his residences and canceling public events. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dicey

Word History

Etymology

dice entry 1 + -y

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dicey was in 1950

Rhymes for dicey

See All Rhymes for dicey

Browse Nearby Words

dicerous
dicey
dich-
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dicey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dicey. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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