unlikely

adjective

un·​like·​ly ˌən-ˈlī-klē 

1

: not likely : improbable

an unlikely outcome

2

: likely to fail : unpromising

an unlikely place to see much wildlife

Synonyms of unlikely

• doubtful
• dubious
• questionable
• improbable

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

The motion is unlikely to pass, but indicates how deeply politicized the issue has become. — CNN Money, 7 July 2026

The parasite becomes infectious after passing through the body, making any human-to-human spread very unlikely. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Even young or new readers of Catcher are unlikely to be surprised by Holden’s excess maturity. — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

The underlying conditions are unlikely to change, with Jeffries stressing in a recent interview that his average contribution came from a small donor. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unlikely

• likely

Kids 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