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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.

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

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

But satisfaction isn’t in the cards for this general’s daughter, famed for her beauty and imperious style.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Asia Society Policy Institute senior vice president Wendy Cutler expects that walking away from announced deals "does not seem to be in the cards for our partners."

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

A sedan could be in the cards, he said, if Ford can figure out a way to make it profitably.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 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

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.