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
Rufe said the federal government was unlikely to succeed at trial.
—
Tassanee Vejpongsa, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Even if a blockade in the Strait remains unlikely, disruption caused by a US attack could nevertheless send oil prices even higher, above their the recent gains – perhaps by another $10 a barrel, Tuttle said.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
The abrupt shift away from Blue Jay and the LVM system are unlikely to hamper Amazon’s wider robotics and automation ambitions, especially given the technology’s ability to cut down supply chain costs.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
What begins as a gesture of Franco-American fraternity evolves into the intimate story of an unlikely friendship between two men united by ideals and tested by doubt.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
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Tassanee Vejpongsa, Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Even if a blockade in the Strait remains unlikely, disruption caused by a US attack could nevertheless send oil prices even higher, above their the recent gains – perhaps by another $10 a barrel, Tuttle said.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
The abrupt shift away from Blue Jay and the LVM system are unlikely to hamper Amazon’s wider robotics and automation ambitions, especially given the technology’s ability to cut down supply chain costs.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 20 Feb. 2026
What begins as a gesture of Franco-American fraternity evolves into the intimate story of an unlikely friendship between two men united by ideals and tested by doubt.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Feb. 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 24 Feb. 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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