unlikely

adjective

un·like·ly | \ ˌən-ˈlī-klē

Definition of unlikely

1 : not likely : improbable an unlikely outcome

2 : likely to fail : unpromising

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about unlikely

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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

Drones in tests fly in convenient straight lines, an unlikely path for a real target. — David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, "What Are Airports Going to Do About Drones?," 9 Jan. 2019 Football scarves were an unlikely trend last winter, and brands like Fendi and Burberry have designed their own logo’d versions ever since. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "10 Trends We Expect to See in Men’s Street Style This Year," 2 Jan. 2019 Starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, the movie revolves around the very mysterious Emily (Lively), her unlikely friendship with Stephanie (Kendrick), and, going by the trailer, Emily's deep devotion to drinking martinis and looking stylish. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "Blake Lively's 'A Simple Favor' Premiere Manicure Had a Hidden Message," 11 Sep. 2018 Despite Georgia’s important contribution to NATO operations, the alliance is unlikely to invite the country in until the conflict with the two regions has been resolved. — BostonGlobe.com, "NATO says it is united at end of raucous, divisive summit," 12 July 2018 With recent blockbuster reports highlighting the dire and immediate nature of climate change, the environment—and the politics and planning that come in response—seem unlikely to leave the spotlight anytime soon. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "As cities confront climate change, is density the answer?," 11 Dec. 2018 Anyone who has been following the year’s biggest interiors trends knows that terrazzo has become an unlikely darling of the design set. — Jennifer Fernandez, House Beautiful, "This Company Is Making Gorgeous Terrazzo Furnishings Out Of Recycled Marble," 11 Dec. 2018 Giphy While your girl Whitney is definitely on board, iconic frenemies Lauren Conrad and Kristen Cavallari are looking unlikely to make a return to The Hills. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Whitney Port Confirms She's Coming Back for 'The Hills: New Beginnings'," 22 Aug. 2018 The Orioles, who dropped to 40 games below .500 with Saturday’s 5-4 loss in Minnesota, are active in dialogue with several teams, and a deal could actually get done as soon as this weekend, said the source, although that seems unlikely. — Eduardo A. Encina, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles continue to move quickly to trade Manny Machado," 7 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unlikely.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.