〜かねない
Might well 〜かねない
Meaning
"Might well ~", "could easily end up ~" — of a feared outcome.
Formation
[verb ます-stem] + かねない
Notes
Only for results the speaker fears — 事故になりかねない. Despite looking negative it is the affirmative "could happen"; its opposite 〜かねる means "cannot". Both attach to the ます-stem.
Examples
そんな運転（うんてん）では事故（じこ）になりかねません。
Driving like that could easily cause an accident.
Breakdown
無理（むり）をすると病気（びょうき）になりかねません。
If you overdo it you could well fall ill.
Breakdown
その発言（はつげん）は誤解（ごかい）を招（まね）きかねません。
That remark could easily invite misunderstanding.
Breakdown
放（ほう）っておくと大（おお）きな問題（もんだい）になりかねません。
Left alone it could turn into a serious problem.
Breakdown
彼（かれ）なら約束（やくそく）を忘（わす）れかねません。
Knowing him, he might well forget the appointment.
Breakdown
⚠️ Often confused with
〜そうだ (伝聞)
I heard that 〜そうだ (hearsay)
Hearsay — "I heard that ~ / they say that ~". Reports information obtained from another so...
〜そうだ (様態) / 〜そうに / 〜そうな
Looks like 〜そうだ (conjecture)
Visual conjecture based on appearance — "looks like ~ / seems about to ~". Based on what y...
〜らしい
Apparently / seems 〜らしい
Conjecture based on some evidence or hearsay — "apparently ~ / I hear that ~ / it seems ~"...
〜みたいだ / 〜みたいな / 〜みたいに
Looks like / seems 〜みたいだ
Conjecture based on appearance or impression — "it looks like ~ / it seems ~". More casual...
〜ようだ / 〜ような / 〜ように
Appears / seems 〜ようだ
Conjecture or resemblance — "it appears that ~ / it seems ~ / like ~". More formal than み...
〜かもしれない
Might / perhaps 〜かもしれない
Expresses possibility — "might / perhaps / may". Indicates something is possible but not c...
〜はずだ / 〜はずです
Should be 〜はずだ (expectation)
A strong expectation based on logic or evidence — "should be ~ / ought to ~ / is supposed...
〜はずがない / 〜はずありません
Cannot be / no way 〜はずがない
Strong denial of possibility — "there's no way ~ / it cannot be that ~ / impossible". The...
〜に違いない
Must be 〜に違いない
A confident inference — "must be ~", "I am sure ~".
〜おそれがある
There is a risk that 〜おそれがある
"There is a risk / danger that ~".