Definitions

in the cards

ADJECTIVE

cut-and-dried

Synonyms

WEAK

definite destined familiar fated fixed old hat ordained ordinary plotted prearranged precise routine set settled specific trite written

Antonyms

WEAK

vague

ADJECTIVE

destined

Synonyms

STRONGEST

coming designed doomed intended

STRONG

brewing closed compelled condemned directed foreordained impending looming meant menacing near ordained overhanging predestined predetermined sealed settled stated threatening

WEAK

at hand certain compulsory forthcoming hanging over in prospect in store in the wind ineluctable inescapable inevitable inexorable instant predesigned que sera sera that is to be that will be to come unavoidable way the ball bounces

Antonyms

STRONG

distant remote unsettled

WEAK

avoidable unscheduled

ADJECTIVE

doomed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ill-fated wrecked

STRONG

bedeviled bewitched convicted cursed damned destroyed done fated foreordained lost overthrown overwhelmed predestined ruined sentenced sunk suppressed undone unfortunate

WEAK

cut down dead duck done for ill-omened kiss of death luckless menaced que sera sera star-crossed threatened thrown down unredeemed

Antonyms

STRONG

blessed intact nice protected restored saved successful

WEAK

hopeful lucky

ADJECTIVE

eventual

Synonyms

STRONGEST

conditional consequent inevitable possible prospective ultimate

WEAK

closing contingent dependent down the pike down the road ending endmost ensuing final hindmost indirect last later latter overall resulting secondary succeeding terminal ulterior vicarious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

beginning unlikely

WEAK

past

ADJECTIVE

forthcoming

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anticipated approaching awaited coming impending upcoming

WEAK

accessible at hand available destined fated future in evidence in preparation in prospect in store in the wind inescapable inevitable nearing obtainable on tap oncoming open pending predestined prospective ready resulting

Antonyms

STRONGEST

remote

WEAK

bygone distant gone past

ADJECTIVE

future

Synonyms

STRONGEST

eventual forthcoming imminent impending planned prospective subsequent ultimate

STRONG

approaching coming final inevitable unfolding

WEAK

booked budgeted close at hand coming up destined down the line down the pike down the road fated from here in from here on from here to eternity from now on in in the course of time in the offing just around the corner later likely looked toward near next scheduled to-be ulterior unborn up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

distant later past

ADJECTIVE

imminent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

forthcoming immediate impending inevitable likely looming possible probable unavoidable

WEAK

about to happen approaching brewing close coming expectant fast-approaching following gathering in store in the air in the offing in the wind in view ineluctable inescapable inevasible menacing near nearing next nigh on its way on the horizon on the verge overhanging see it coming threatening to come unescapable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

avoidable distant escapable later never unlikely

WEAK

doubtful far future

ADJECTIVE

impending

Synonyms

STRONGEST

approaching brewing imminent looming

STRONG

coming gathering hovering menacing near nearing overhanging portending threatening

WEAK

at hand in the offing in the wind looking to ominous on the horizon proximate see it coming waiting to

Antonyms

STRONG

gone past

WEAK

distant later never remote

ADJECTIVE

likely

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acceptable expected fair feasible inclined possible prone reasonable

WEAK

achievable anticipated assuring attainable believeable conceivable conjecturable credible destined disposed favorite given to imaginable in favor of in the habit of inferable liable odds-on on the verge of ostensible plausible practicable predisposed presumable promising rational seeming subject to supposable tending thinkable true up-and-coming verisimilar workable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

impossible unlikely unreasonable

WEAK

implausible inapt unforeseeable

ADJECTIVE

probable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apparent credible feasible plausible possible presumed reasonable

STRONG

mortal rational

WEAK

believable earthly illusory most likely odds-on ostensible presumable seeming

Antonyms

STRONGEST

implausible impossible improbable inconceivable unbelievable unlikely unreasonable

NOUN

chance

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advantage break future hit lot odds outcome risk

STRONG

accident adventure cast casualty coincidence contingency destination destiny doom fluke fortuity fortune gamble hap happening hazard kismet lottery misfortune occurrence peradventure peril providence toss-up

WEAK

bad luck even chance good luck haphazard heads or tails luck out lucky break stroke of luck throw of the dice turn of the cards way the cookie crumbles wheel of fortune

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disadvantage loss

STRONG

certainty design plan protection reality safeguard safety surety

WEAK

aim assurance law scheme

NOUN

luck

Synonyms

STRONG

advantage blessing break fluke godsend happiness health karma kismet luckiness occasion opportunity profit prosperity serendipity smile stroke success triumph victory weal wealth win windfall

WEAK

big break fortunateness good luck lucky break run of luck streak of luck

Antonyms

STRONG

bad fortune bad luck disadvantage failure forfeit loss misfortune

NOUN

luckiness

Synonyms

STRONG

advantage blessing break fluke fortune godsend happiness health karma kismet occasion opportunity profit prosperity serendipity smile stroke success triumph victory weal wealth win windfall

WEAK

big break fortunateness good luck lucky break run of luck streak of luck

Antonyms

STRONG

bad fortune bad luck disadvantage failure forfeit loss misfortune poverty sadness sorrow unhappiness

NOUN

prospect

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anticipation chance expectation forecast future hope likelihood plan possibility probability promise proposal thought

STRONG

calculation contemplation expectancy odds opening presumption

WEAK

irons in the fire

Antonyms

STRONGEST

hopelessness impossibility unlikelihood

VERB

expect

Synonyms

STRONGEST

await forecast foresee hope predict suppose take think

STRONG

apprehend assume calculate conjecture contemplate divine envisage feel figure foreknow gather imagine look presume presuppose reckon sense surmise suspect trust understand

WEAK

bargain for bargain on be afraid count on hope for look ahead to look for look forward to see coming wait for watch for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disbelieve

STRONG

disregard know misunderstand neglect overlook

VERB

forecast

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anticipate augur calculate conclude determine estimate foresee foretell gauge portend

STRONG

adumbrate conjecture demonstrate divine figure gather infer plan predetermine presage prognosticate prophesy reason surmise telegraph

WEAK

call the turn dope out figure out see it coming soothsay

Antonyms

STRONGEST

begin doubt start

STRONG

misunderstand

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Brent Kochuba, founder of SpotGamma, believes a deeper pullback could be in the cards as investors await Nvidia’s earnings after the bell on Wednesday — an event that’s been known to move markets.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

The White House said emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would engage in an "in-person conversation" with Iranian representatives, but Iranian state media said that direct negotiations were not in the cards.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

That means an outlook boost could still be in the cards, according to the analysts, given that Netflix’s operational momentum continues to be strong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

If rolling meatballs is not in the cards on a weeknight, no worry.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

I knew enough about the Rorschach to know that it wasn’t what you saw in the cards that counted, but how you reacted to them.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

in the cards

Example Sentences

Related Words