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

Their bid to cash in on the find quickly unravels into a dangerous pursuit, as smugglers and rivals close in and an unlikely band of companions, including a resourceful fish vendor and a volatile local troublemaker, get swept up in the mayhem. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026

And the shortage is unlikely to improve anytime soon. —Jerry Gurwitz, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026

Government has longer-term leverage Despite the shift toward commercial technology, defense leaders are unlikely to relinquish control over mission critical systems. —Barbara Booth, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026

Still, Tehran is unlikely to give up on its nuclear program, Citrinowicz said. —Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 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