1
as in probable
having a high chance of occurring
if you don't graduate from high school, your likely fate is a low-paying job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
this looks like a likely spot for good trout fishing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in plausible
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable
we didn't find her excuse a very likely story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pretty
very pleasing to look at
a likely gal such as yourself should have no trouble getting a date
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in probably
by reasonable assumption
the picnic will likely be cancelled if the storm continues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of likely
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Certain establishments are likely to shutter for the day, though bodegas, pizza places and bagel sellers stand to cash in.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 18 June 2026
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 June 2026
SpaceX’s orbital ambitions would likely add to that figure, potentially testing both the equity and debt markets.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Content Fails To Resonate With Target Audiences A potential consequence of failing to protect a brand’s voice in AI outputs is lower engagement, because content that feels generic or lacks personality is less likely to resonate with audiences.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Certain establishments are likely to shutter for the day, though bodegas, pizza places and bagel sellers stand to cash in.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 18 June 2026
Adverb
Scotland, which defeated Haiti 1-0 on the same field last Friday, likely would need to beat or draw Brazil in its group-stage finale in Miami to qualify for the Round of 32.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 June 2026
SpaceX’s orbital ambitions would likely add to that figure, potentially testing both the equity and debt markets.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
In 1985, a young center named Patrick Ewing, who had just starred at Georgetown, came to the Garden and a turnaround seemed not only possible but probable.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
But while a stronger event raises the odds and probable scale of impact, the true total won’t be known for years because the losses compound over time.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
The findings suggest that boron nitride nanotubes could serve as a promising platform for next-generation separation technologies.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
21 June 2026
-
Unfortunately, 29-year-old’s promising career suffered a tragic end.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
Due diligence… Latitude did not explain the reason for the change, but one plausible explanation is trademark risk.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
19 June 2026
-
According to Germain, the network initially didn't want to delve into death or divorce, the only two plausible reasons why Chuckie's mom wasn't around, in a kids' show.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Accompanied by woodwinds and horns and, for the first time, vocals, the Baltimore rock band returns with its prettiest and most welcoming music to date.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
-
Not simply a pretty place, Rock City curates memories.—
Judith Garrison,
AJC.com,
16 June 2026
Adverb
-
And that probably includes the windows, too.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
-
If Claire wasn’t running in this, probably, like, sure, fine.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area beginning early Wednesday, and are expected within the warning area beginning later on Wednesday.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Tree was recognizable for his bright fashion, mullet haircut with prominent bangs, thin mustache and encouraging outlook.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
22 June 2026
-
For starters, bright colors inject visibility – not merely for players looking to find each other amid the chaos of a World Cup match, but also for brands looking to draw the gazes of millions of onlooking fans towards their logo.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
To protect their position, incumbents must provide a credible vision of the future, a practical roadmap to get there, and tangible evidence that others are already making the journey.—
Peter Bendor-Samuel,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Most clinically credible face masks live in this range.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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