Antonyms of adj certain
7 senses of certain
Sense 1
certain (prenominal) -- (definite but not specified or identified; "set aside a certain sum each week"; "to a certain degree"; "certain breeds do not make good pets"; "certain members have not paid their dues"; "a certain popular teacher"; "a certain Mrs. Jones")
INDIRECT (VIA definite) -> indefinite -- (vague or not clearly defined or stated; "must you be so indefinite?"; "amorphous blots of color having vague and indefinite edges"; "he would not answer so indefinite a proposal")
Sense 2
certain (predicate) (vs. uncertain), sure (vs. unsure) -- (having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured; "felt certain of success"; "was sure (or certain) she had seen it"; "was very sure in his beliefs"; "sure of her friends")
uncertain (vs. certain), unsure (vs. sure), incertain -- (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")
=> ambivalent -- (uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow; "was ambivalent about having children")
=> doubtful, dubious -- (fraught with uncertainty or doubt; "they were doubtful that the cord would hold"; "it was doubtful whether she would be admitted"; "dubious about agreeing to go")
=> groping -- (acting with uncertainty or hesitance or lack of confidence; "a groping effort to understand")
Sense 3
certain (predicate) (vs. uncertain) -- (established beyond doubt or question; definitely known; "what is certain is that every effect must have a cause"; "it is certain that they were on the bus"; "his fate is certain"; "the date for the invasion is certain")
uncertain (vs. certain) -- (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")
=> indefinite -- (not decided or not known; "were indefinite about their plans"; "plans are indefinite")
=> up in the air -- (very uncertain; "left everything up in the air")
Sense 4
certain (vs. uncertain), sure -- (certain to occur; destined or inevitable; "he was certain to fail"; "his fate is certain"; "In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes"- Benjamin Franklin; "he faced certain death"; "sudden but sure regret"; "he is sure to win")
uncertain (vs. certain) -- (not certain to occur; not inevitable; "everything is uncertain about the army"; "the issue is uncertain")
=> chancy, fluky, flukey, iffy -- (subject to accident or chance or change; "a chancy appeal at best"; "getting that job was definitely fluky"; "a fluky wind"; "an iffy proposition")
=> contingent -- (uncertain because of uncontrollable circumstances; "the results of confession were not contingent, they were certain"- George Eliot)
=> up in the air -- (not yet determined; "plans are still up in the air")
Sense 5
sealed (vs. unsealed), certain -- (established irrevocably; "his fate is sealed")
Sense 6
certain, sure -- (reliable in operation or effect; "a quick and certain remedy"; "a sure way to distinguish the two"; "wood dust is a sure sign of termites")
INDIRECT (VIA reliable, dependable) -> unreliable, undependable -- (not worthy of reliance or trust; "in the early 1950s computers were large and expensive and unreliable"; "an undependable assistant")
INDIRECT (VIA reliable, dependable) -> unreliable, undependable -- (not worthy of reliance or trust; "in the early 1950s computers were large and expensive and unreliable"; "an undependable assistant")
Sense 7
certain, sure -- (exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance; "be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through"; "be sure to lock the doors")
INDIRECT (VIA careful) -> careless -- (marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful; "careless about her clothes"; "forgotten by some careless person"; "a careless housekeeper"; "careless proofreading"; "it was a careless mistake"; "hurt by a careless remark")
Similarity of adj certain
7 senses of certain
Sense 1
certain (prenominal) -- (definite but not specified or identified; "set aside a certain sum each week"; "to a certain degree"; "certain breeds do not make good pets"; "certain members have not paid their dues"; "a certain popular teacher"; "a certain Mrs. Jones")
=> definite (vs. indefinite) -- (precise; explicit and clearly defined; "I want a definite answer"; "a definite statement of the terms of the will"; "a definite amount"; "definite restrictions on the sale of alcohol"; "the wedding date is now definite"; "a definite drop in attendance")
Sense 2
certain (predicate) (vs. uncertain), sure (vs. unsure) -- (having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured; "felt certain of success"; "was sure (or certain) she had seen it"; "was very sure in his beliefs"; "sure of her friends")
=> convinced (predicate), positive (predicate), confident (predicate) -- (persuaded of; very sure; "were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join"; "I am positive he is lying"; "was confident he would win")
Sense 3
certain (predicate) (vs. uncertain) -- (established beyond doubt or question; definitely known; "what is certain is that every effect must have a cause"; "it is certain that they were on the bus"; "his fate is certain"; "the date for the invasion is certain")
=> definite -- (known for certain; "it is definite that they have won")
=> indisputable, sure -- (impossible to doubt or dispute; "indisputable (or sure) proof")
=> sure as shooting -- (absolutely certain; "it is sure as shooting that they will come")
Sense 4
certain (vs. uncertain), sure -- (certain to occur; destined or inevitable; "he was certain to fail"; "his fate is certain"; "In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes"- Benjamin Franklin; "he faced certain death"; "sudden but sure regret"; "he is sure to win")
=> bound (predicate), destined -- ((usually followed by `to') governed by fate; "bound to happen"; "an old house destined to be demolished"; "he is destined to be famous")
=> doomed, fated -- ((usually followed by `to') determined by tragic fate; "doomed to unhappiness"; "fated to be the scene of Kennedy's assassination")
=> foreordained, predestinate, predestined -- (established or prearranged unalterably; "his place in history was foreordained"; "a sense of predestinate inevitability about it"; "it seemed predestined since the beginning of the world")
=> in for (predicate) -- (certain to get or have; "he knew he was in for a licking")
Also See-> predictable#1
Sense 5
sealed (vs. unsealed), certain -- (established irrevocably; "his fate is sealed")
Sense 6
certain, sure -- (reliable in operation or effect; "a quick and certain remedy"; "a sure way to distinguish the two"; "wood dust is a sure sign of termites")
=> reliable (vs. unreliable), dependable (vs. undependable) -- (worthy of reliance or trust; "a reliable source of information"; "a dependable worker")
Sense 7
certain, sure -- (exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance; "be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through"; "be sure to lock the doors")
=> careful (vs. careless) -- (exercising caution or showing care or attention; "they were careful when crossing the busy street"; "be careful to keep her shoes clean"; "did very careful research"; "careful art restorers"; "careful of the rights of others"; "careful about one's behavior")
