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
Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Missing Spots According to Sara Aparacio, Homeaglow’s resident cleaning expert, people are most likely to miss the touch points that are constantly in use—light switches, door handles, remote controls, even game controllers and keyboards.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Two side-by-side windows will likely be the ideal max.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Any corner-crossing access recommendation from PLPW is likely to go to the state’s Environmental Quality Council for consideration, probably this fall.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Missing Spots According to Sara Aparacio, Homeaglow’s resident cleaning expert, people are most likely to miss the touch points that are constantly in use—light switches, door handles, remote controls, even game controllers and keyboards.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
Adverb
Rebuilding the company’s pad, or finishing a new one, will likely take at least a year, even with a major effort by Blue Origin, and drawing upon Jeff Bezos’ nearly infinite resources.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Two side-by-side windows will likely be the ideal max.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
Wind gusts of up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail (1 inch) are probable.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
-
That outcome looks highly probable, with a deep bench of performers in the hunt, among them Patrick Ball, Sepideh Moafi, Taylor Dearden and Shawn Hatosy.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The chemistry has therefore emerged as a promising option for large-scale energy storage, where cost, resource availability, and operational reliability are critical factors.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
-
Next to him is the promising 21-year-old Alex Freeman, the son of a former NFL wide receiver whose athleticism is off the charts but feel for the game is still a work in progress.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
But in the decades since PBHs were first proposed, astronomers found clever ways to narrow down their plausible range of masses, ruling out many scenarios in which these black holes could account for dark matter.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
-
But my conclusions about these impacts rest on plausible inferences from what researchers know more generally about cognitive psychology.—
Christian B. Miller,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Above the minibar are Kemp’s pretty teacups and saucers designed for Wedgewood.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
For more of a no-frills option that’s still functional and pretty, check out this 38-inch-tall bird bath.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
Adverb
-
That’s probably why the influencer chose to tow the cephalopod in a tank riding on a skateboard, complete with what appears to be a wireless aerator to supply the critter with oxygen.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
4 June 2026
-
Researchers and organizations working on the front lines with the city’s homeless population would probably disagree.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Anything and everything is possible and can be achieved with a trademark, down-to-earth friendliness.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Wherever possible, Arnold shot outside the studio, capturing her subjects going about their everyday lives — a radical approach for celebrity photography at the time.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Ex-Arsenal player Héctor Bellerín wore bright pink on the Louis Vuitton catwalk in 2019, while Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga walked for Balenciaga in 2022.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus the Swan.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
The emphasis in Panama, however, centered less on exact dates than on forcing a credible electoral calendar into the public debate.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Before Chula Vista grants land on generous terms, the public should see a credible financial model.—
Christos Korgan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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