Specialist dictionary

Caution and hedging

Language for probability, limitation, uncertainty, qualification and appropriately cautious claims.

Core vocabulary

120 featured terms

The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.

Aboutadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Apparentlyadverb

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…

Apparentlyadverb

from appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…

Approximatelyadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Aroundadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

At timesadverb

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…

Believablyadverb

easy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"

Belikeadverb

with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

Broadlyadverb

without regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"

Broadly speakingadverb

without regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"

By and largeadverb

usually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"

Carefullyadverb

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact; "she ventured cautiously downstairs"; "they handled the incident with kid gloves"

Carefulnessnoun

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger; "a man of caution"

Cautionnoun

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger; "a man of caution"

Cautiouslyadverb

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact; "she ventured cautiously downstairs"; "they handled the incident with kid gloves"

Cautiousnessnoun

the trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger; "a man of caution"

Caveatnoun

(law) a formal notice filed with a court or officer to suspend a proceeding until filer is given a hearing; "a caveat filed against the probate…

Close toadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Commonlyadverb

under normal conditions; "usually she was late"

Comparativelyadverb

in a relative manner; by comparison to something else; "the situation is relatively calm now"

Constraintnoun

the act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of others

Crediblyadverb

easy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"

Evidentlyadverb

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…

From time to timeadverb

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…

Generallyadverb

usually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"

Generallyadverb

without regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"

In all likelihoodadverb

with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

In all probabilityadverb

with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

In partadverb

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"

Just aboutadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Likelyadverb

with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

Limitnoun

the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly with no limit…

Limitationnoun

the greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly with no limit…

Looselyadverb

without regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"

Makingnoun

an attribute that must be met or complied with and that fits a person for something; "her qualifications for the job are excellent"; "one of the…

Manifestlyadverb

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…

More often than notadverb

usually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"

More or lessadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Mostlyadverb

usually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"

Normallyadverb

under normal conditions; "usually she was late"

Now and againadverb

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…

Now and thenadverb

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…

Obviouslyadverb

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…

Occasionallyadverb

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…

On occasionadverb

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…

On the face of itadverb

from appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…

Once in a whileadverb

sporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…

Or soadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Ordinarilyadverb

under normal conditions; "usually she was late"

Ostensiblyadverb

from appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…

Partadverb

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"

Partiallyadverb

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"

Partlyadverb

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"

Patentlyadverb

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…

Plainadverb

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…

Plainlyadverb

unmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…

Plausiblyadverb

easy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"

Possiblyadverb

to a degree possible of achievement or by possible means; "they can't possibly get here in time for the funeral?"

Potentiallyadverb

with a possibility of becoming actual; "he is potentially dangerous"; "potentially useful"

Precariousnessnoun

being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance; "the uncertainty of the outcome"; "the precariousness of his income"

Predominantlyadverb

much greater in number or influence; "the patients are predominantly indigenous"

Preponderantlyadverb

much greater in number or influence; "the patients are predominantly indigenous"

Presumablyadverb

by reasonable assumption; "presumably, he missed the train"

Presumptivelyadverb

by reasonable assumption; "presumably, he missed the train"

Probablyadverb

with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

Probablyadverb

easy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"

Provisionallyadverb

temporarily and conditionally; "they have agreed provisionally"; "was appointed provisionally"

Qualificationnoun

an attribute that must be met or complied with and that fits a person for something; "her qualifications for the job are excellent"; "one of the…

Rarelyadverb

not often; "we rarely met"

Relativelyadverb

in a relative manner; by comparison to something else; "the situation is relatively calm now"

Roughadverb

with roughness or violence (‘rough’ is an informal variant for ‘roughly’); "he was pushed roughly aside"; "they treated him rough"

Roughlyadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Roughlyadverb

with roughness or violence (‘rough’ is an informal variant for ‘roughly’); "he was pushed roughly aside"; "they treated him rough"

Seeminglyadverb

from appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…

Seldomadverb

not often; "we rarely met"

Someadverb

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…

Tentativelyadverb

in a tentative manner; "we agreed tentatively on a dinner date"

Typicallyadverb

in a typical manner; "Tom was typically hostile"

Uncertainadjective

not established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown; "an uncertain future"; "a manuscript of uncertain origin"; "plans are still uncertain"…

Uncertainnessnoun

being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance; "the uncertainty of the outcome"; "the precariousness of his income"

Uncertaintynoun

being unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance; "the uncertainty of the outcome"; "the precariousness of his income"

Unremarkablyadverb

under normal conditions; "usually she was late"

Usuallyadverb

under normal conditions; "usually she was late"

With kid glovesadverb

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact; "she ventured cautiously downstairs"; "they handled the incident with kid gloves"

Apparentadjective

appearing as such but not necessarily so; "for all his apparent wealth, he had no money to pay the rent"; "the committee investigated some appar…

Appearverb

come into being or existence, or appear on the scene; "Then the computer came along and changed our lives"; "Homo sapiens appeared millions of y…

Appraisalnoun

a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)

Approximateverb

be close or similar; "Her results approximate my own"

Arguablyadverb

as can be shown by argument; "she is arguably the best"

Argueverb

give evidence of; "The evidence argues for your claim"; "The results indicate the need for more work"

Come alongverb

come into being or existence, or appear on the scene; "Then the computer came along and changed our lives"; "Homo sapiens appeared millions of y…

Come closeverb

be close or similar; "Her results approximate my own"

Estimatenoun

a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)

Estimationnoun

a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)

Frequentlyadverb

many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"

Indicateverb

give evidence of; "The evidence argues for your claim"; "The results indicate the need for more work"

Intimateverb

imply as a possibility; "The evidence suggests a need for more clarification"

Likelyadjective

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to for…

Maynoun

the month following April and preceding June

Mightnoun

physical strength

Mightinessnoun

physical strength

Oftadverb

many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"

Oftenadverb

many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"

Oftentimesadverb

many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"

Ofttimesadverb

many times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"

Ostensibleadjective

appearing as such but not necessarily so; "for all his apparent wealth, he had no money to pay the rent"; "the committee investigated some appar…

Plausibleadjective

apparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing; "a plausible excuse"

Possiblenoun

something that can be done; "politics is the art of the possible"

Potencynoun

the inherent capacity for coming into being

Potentialnoun

the inherent capacity for coming into being

Potentialitynoun

the inherent capacity for coming into being

Powernoun

physical strength

Probableadjective

apparently destined; "the probable consequences of going ahead with the scheme"

Probationaryadjective

under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"

Provisionaladjective

under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"

Provisionaryadjective

under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"

Seemingadjective

appearing as such but not necessarily so; "for all his apparent wealth, he had no money to pay the rent"; "the committee investigated some appar…

Sometimesadverb

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always; "sometimes she wished she were back in England"; "sometimes her photography is breathta…

Suggestverb

imply as a possibility; "The evidence suggests a need for more clarification"

Tentativeadjective

under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"