unlikely
adjective
un·like·ly
ˌən-ˈlī-klē 
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely outcome
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
Synonyms
Examples of unlikely in a Sentence
He was an unlikely candidate for the position.
A big city seems like an unlikely place to find wildlife.
I received support from an unlikely ally.
Recent Examples on the Web
As ByteDance has blocked the service, these workarounds are unlikely to be effective for long.
—
Ewan Spence, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Admiration for Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso is unlikely to go further in the current market.
—David Ornstein, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Despite the legacy of student loan forgiveness that Biden is leaving behind, student borrowers are unlikely to see as much financial relief under Trump's presidency.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
While SpaceX said initial data indicates a fire developed in the aft section of the ship, Musk said on X that next month's 8th Starship flight is unlikely to be postponed.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unlikely 
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Ewan Spence, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Admiration for Juventus left-back Andrea Cambiaso is unlikely to go further in the current market.
—David Ornstein, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Despite the legacy of student loan forgiveness that Biden is leaving behind, student borrowers are unlikely to see as much financial relief under Trump's presidency.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
While SpaceX said initial data indicates a fire developed in the aft section of the ship, Musk said on X that next month's 8th Starship flight is unlikely to be postponed.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unlikely
Dictionary Entries Near unlikely
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlikely. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlikely
adjective
un·like·ly
ˌən-ˈlī-klē
ˈən-
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely story
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
an unlikely place for fishing
unlikeliness
noun
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