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
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
Another surgery swapped out her breast implants to erase her shoulder pain in 2022, Dishell said, but doctors warned her then that her other pain was unlikely to improve.
—
Brett Kelman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
But in the unlikely scenario in which the comet endures not just perihelion but also its subsequent solar retreat in the following days, Comet MAPS will soar back into view, giving the crew of Artemis II a unique opportunity to glimpse it in all its glory.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Trump’s high expectations for the job are unlikely to change.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
At the same time, many longer-term gold price drivers, including central bank demand and ongoing economic uncertainty, remain in place right now and are unlikely to change in the near future.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
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Brett Kelman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
But in the unlikely scenario in which the comet endures not just perihelion but also its subsequent solar retreat in the following days, Comet MAPS will soar back into view, giving the crew of Artemis II a unique opportunity to glimpse it in all its glory.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Trump’s high expectations for the job are unlikely to change.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
At the same time, many longer-term gold price drivers, including central bank demand and ongoing economic uncertainty, remain in place right now and are unlikely to change in the near future.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlikely. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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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