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poor prognosis

NOUN
dark horse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
also-ran long shot sleeper underdog
WEAK
hundred-to-one shot improbability little chance little opportunity outside chance outside shot poor bet poor lookout poor possibility poor prospect slim chance small chance stalking horse unexpected winner unknown unknown quantity unlikelihood unlikely winner upsetter

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.

Ideaya’s treatment targets an aggressive form of uveal melanoma that generally has a poor prognosis because it occurs in patients who lack the genetic marker to receive typical immunotherapy.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, with only about 10% of patients living longer than five years after diagnosis.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

Doctors found Hawley had a severe brain bleed and a poor prognosis.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2025

He said that, combined with having to perform heart massage on such a small boy, made for a poor prognosis.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2024

Of the contents of the Orbit.—This may be required for malignant disease, but with a very poor prognosis.

From A Manual of the Operations of Surgery For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners by Bell, Joseph