1
as in likelihood
the quality or state of being likely to occur
the plot of the movie thriller was exciting and surprising but woefully lacking in probability
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in odds
a measure of how often an event will occur instead of another
the probability of flipping a coin and getting heads 50 times in a row is not good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of probability
Long-term weather forecasting—the kind that predicts conditions months or even years or decades in advance—is all about probabilities, factoring together not only current conditions and trends, but the historical record.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 May 2025
Each zone is a minimum of 200 acres, and it’s assessed based on burn probability, fire history from 1991 to 2020, vegetation type, ground slope conditions, weather data and other factors, Gordon said.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
The probability of any American having dementia in their lifetime may be far greater than previously thought.
—Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
The book challenges conventional wisdom about risk, uncertainty, and probability, offering a framework for understanding and navigating a world dominated by the unpredictable.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for probability
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 May 2025
Each zone is a minimum of 200 acres, and it’s assessed based on burn probability, fire history from 1991 to 2020, vegetation type, ground slope conditions, weather data and other factors, Gordon said.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
The probability of any American having dementia in their lifetime may be far greater than previously thought.
—Jennifer E. Graham-Engeland, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
The book challenges conventional wisdom about risk, uncertainty, and probability, offering a framework for understanding and navigating a world dominated by the unpredictable.
—Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for probability
Recent Examples of Synonyms for probability
likelihood
Noun
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
1 June 2025
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Probability.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/probability. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share