as in doubtful
not likely to be true or to occur
in the unlikely event that the file is deleted or corrupted, you will want to have backup copies available
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Recent Examples of unlikely
Crescenta Valley has an unlikely new starting quarterback in Julian Savery, who was a running back before suffering a torn ACL and missing the 2025 season.
—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Ballet shoes are unlikely to translate broadly to our customer.
—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
29 June 2026
For now, large-scale unrest remains unlikely, as most Venezuelans remain focused on survival—searching for medicine, shelter, food and missing relatives.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
While a repeat of the 1930s Dust Bowl is unlikely due to modern farming practices, prolonged drought could still impact food production and water supplies.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
Ballet shoes are unlikely to translate broadly to our customer.
—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
29 June 2026
For now, large-scale unrest remains unlikely, as most Venezuelans remain focused on survival—searching for medicine, shelter, food and missing relatives.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
While a repeat of the 1930s Dust Bowl is unlikely due to modern farming practices, prolonged drought could still impact food production and water supplies.
—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlikely
Adjective
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Three centuries later, the librarians of Alexandria took charge of the text, collating competing versions, marking doubtful lines, imposing a measure of order on the teeming verses.
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Sounding doubtful and defeated, Jessica hung up.
Adjective
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The guest star’s fate looks dubious in an exclusive new clip released Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s sixth episode.
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Japan has long held the dubious honor of a revolving door of prime ministers.
Adjective
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And the audio and video recording of women is a questionable feature of every camp – even if the men here don’t see it that way.
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And the majority of students who require calculus for their eventual major end up retaking the introductory college course anyway—suggesting that the high school rush to calculus provides questionable academic benefit for most who undertake it.
Adjective
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Starting June 30, Sotheby’s will offer the game-winning basketball from the Knicks’ improbable Game 4 comeback against the San Antonio Spurs, in which the team erased an unprecedented 29-point deficit at MSG.
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Those songs blasted through the Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium public-address system in the moments after Curaçao put the finishing touches on an improbable 0-0 draw against Ecuador in a FIFA World Cup group-stage match.
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlikely. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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