Definitions

touch-and-go

ADJECTIVE

risky

Synonyms

WEAK

dangerous delicate hazardous parlous perilous precarious sensitive shaky touchy tricky uncertain unpredictable

Antonyms

WEAK

certain methodical orderly positive sure systematic

ADJECTIVE

hasty

Synonyms

WEAK

casual desultory rapid sketchy

Antonyms

WEAK

certain methodical orderly positive sure systematic

touch and go

ADJECTIVE

crucial

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bottom-line central compelling deciding decisive essential imperative momentous necessary pivotal pressing touchy urgent vital

WEAK

acute clamorous climactic desperate dire hanging by thread high-priority insistent on thin ice searching showdown

Antonyms

STRONGEST

inessential insignificant minor optional secondary trivial unimportant unnecessary voluntary

WEAK

uncritical

ADJECTIVE

debatable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arguable doubtful dubious moot problematic questionable uncertain

WEAK

between rock and hard place between sixes and sevens betwixt and between bone of contention borderline chancy contestable disputable iffy in dispute mootable open to question problematical the jury's out undecided unsettled up for discussion

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain clear decided definite proven resolved settled sure unquestionable

WEAK

inarguable incontrovertible indubious questionable uncontestable undoubted

ADJECTIVE

dubious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arguable debatable equivocal fishy hesitant improbable problematic questionable reluctant shady skeptical suspicious uncertain unclear unconvinced unreliable unsure

WEAK

chancy diffident disputable dubitable far-fetched fly-by-night iffy indecisive moot mootable open perplexed suspect trustless unassured undecided undependable unlikely untrustworthy untrusty wavering

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aboveboard believable certain clear definite determined honest indubious likely probable secure sure trustworthy undoubted unquestionable

WEAK

doubtless positive reliable trusty unambiguous undoubtful unobscure

ADJECTIVE

insecure

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afraid anxious apprehensive hesitant shaky touchy troubled unsure uptight

WEAK

Delphic choked diffident hanging by thread jumpy on thin ice questioning unassured unconfident unpoised up in the air vague

Antonyms

STRONGEST

at ease calm certain collected composed cool definite happy peaceful quiet sure unafraid unwavering unworried

WEAK

confident guarded protected safe secure sound

ADJECTIVE

life-threatening

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deadly lethal mortal serious severe

WEAK

capital critical hazardous threatening unsafe

Antonyms

STRONGEST

harmless invigorating

ADJECTIVE

mootable

Synonyms

WEAK

arguable between rock and hard place between sixes and sevens betwixt and between bone of contention borderline chancy contestable contested disputable doubtful dubious exceptionable iffy in dispute moot open to question problematic problematical questionable the jury's out uncertain undecided unsettled up for discussion

ADJECTIVE

perilous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delicate dicey hazardous precarious risky rugged shaky threatening ticklish touchy treacherous uncertain unstable

WEAK

Russian roulette chancy dynamite exposed hairy insecure loaded on thin ice playing with fire unhealthy unsafe unsound unsteady unsure vulnerable wicked

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm certain definite easy firm nice safe secure stable steady strong sure

WEAK

ADJECTIVE

precarious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dangerous delicate dicey hazardous insecure perilous problematic risky rocky shaky slippery ticklish touchy uncertain unhealthy unreliable unsettled unstable unsteady

WEAK

ambiguous borderline chancy contingent dubious dynamite equivocal hairy hanging by a thread iffy impugnable indecisive loaded on thin ice open out on a limb rugged sensitive unsafe unsure

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite guarded happy healthy protected reliable safe secure settled stable steady strong sure

WEAK

firm undoubted

ADJECTIVE

problematical

Synonyms

WEAK

arguable between rock and hard place between sixes and sevens betwixt and between bone of contention borderline chancy contestable contested disputable doubtful dubious exceptionable iffy in dispute moot mootable open to question problematic questionable the jury's out uncertain undecided unsettled up for discussion

ADJECTIVE

uncertain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous ambivalent dubious erratic hazy hesitant insecure precarious questionable risky unclear undecided undetermined unpredictable unreliable unresolved unsettled unsure vague

WEAK

chancy conjectural fitful hanging by a thread iffy incalculable inconstant indefinite indeterminate indistinct irregular irresolute on thin ice speculative unconfirmed unfixed unforeseeable up for grabs up in the air vacillating variable wavering

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain clear decided definite determined predictable reliable resolved safe secure settled sure trustworthy unchanging undoubted

WEAK

foreseeable

ADJECTIVE

unpredictable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

erratic fickle uncertain unreliable unstable

WEAK

capricious chance chancy dicey doubtful fluctuating fluky from left field hanging by a thread iffy incalculable inconstant random touchy unforeseeable up for grabs variable whimsical

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain definite reliable stable steady sure unchanging

WEAK

constant predictable unvarying

ADJECTIVE

unsafe

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hazardous perilous risky treacherous uncertain unreliable unsound unstable untrustworthy

STRONG

insecure

WEAK

alarming chancy erratic explosive fearsome hanging by a thread on a limb on thin ice precarious shaky slippery threatening ticklish touchy undependable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain honest reliable safe secure stable strong sure true trustworthy

WEAK

harmless protected

ADJECTIVE

unsure

Synonyms

STRONGEST

distrustful dubious hesitant indecisive mistrustful shaky skeptical suspicious uncertain unclear unconvinced undecided

WEAK

betwixt and between borderline fluctuant fly-by-night iffy in a quandary indeterminate irresolute lacking open problematic rootless unassured unconfident undependable unreliable unstable untrustworthy untrusty up for grabs vacillating wavering weak wimpy wobbly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

believing certain clear definite determined indubious sure trustworthy trusty undoubted unwavering

WEAK

secure

ADJECTIVE

urgent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

compelling critical crucial demanding essential immediate imperative important indispensable necessary persuasive pressing serious vital weighty

WEAK

burning called-for capital chief clamant clamorous crying demanded driving exigent foremost heavy hurry-up impelling importunate insistent instant leading life and death momentous paramount primary principal required salient top-priority touchy wanted

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy facile inessential insignificant light minor needless nonessential optional secondary small trivial uncritical unimportant unnecessary unsubstantial voluntary

WEAK

moderate

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.

"She needs to mobilise her voters to have a better chance to win this race. But it's going to be touch and go."

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

In a heartfelt social media post late Saturday, Martyn said it was touch and go whether he would live and the experience was a reminder of "how fragile life is".

From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026

But the appropriators have continued their work through this period… So it’s a touch and go day-by-day analysis that we have here as a leadership team.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

“It was touch and go for a while!”

From Salon • Jul. 16, 2025

It was touch and go all the way to the very doors of the Royal Suite.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

touch-and-go

Example Sentences

Related Words