unlikely
adjective
un·like·ly
ˌən-ˈlī-klē 
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely outcome
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
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
But his approach is unlikely to foster either emotion.
—
Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Despite rapid advances in AI tools, experts say the technology is unlikely to transform the film and TV industry overnight due to rising production costs fueled by streaming wars.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Households below those thresholds may qualify for the full tax benefit, but are unlikely to buy an expensive enough car to do so, economists said.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 June 2025
De-Lin, a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, saw some patients who, at 20 weeks of pregnancy, learned that their fetuses had severe anomalies and were unlikely to survive.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
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Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Despite rapid advances in AI tools, experts say the technology is unlikely to transform the film and TV industry overnight due to rising production costs fueled by streaming wars.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Households below those thresholds may qualify for the full tax benefit, but are unlikely to buy an expensive enough car to do so, economists said.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 June 2025
De-Lin, a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, saw some patients who, at 20 weeks of pregnancy, learned that their fetuses had severe anomalies and were unlikely to survive.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlikely. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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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