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
Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 28 May 2026
The rock feather organisms mainly colonize vertical rocky outcrops where sediment burial is less likely.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 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
As a result, silver is more vulnerable to shifts in private investment and industrial demand, and is likely to lag gold.
—Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 28 May 2026
The rock feather organisms mainly colonize vertical rocky outcrops where sediment burial is less likely.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 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.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
-
Clark is listed as probable for the Fever’s home game against the Golden State Valkyries.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Although the data is still being analysed, Zhang Tongjie believes SETI remains one of the most promising approaches for detecting extraterrestrial life.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
-
Whitmer was once considered among the Democratic Party’s most promising national figures.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Both theories are plausible, Cooper agreed.—
Sneha Dhandapani,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
There are more than 78,000 plausible configurations the electrons might be in; the ground state is a superposition, or a sort of weighted combination, of all these configurations.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Violet, the prettiest girl in school, dies in the first chapter (no spoilers—she is listed as dead in the dramatis personae).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
This honeycomb yellow tank and skirt set from It-girl brand Peixoto gives pretty prairie promenade vibes—ideal for those sunny summer days wandering the grounds of a historic French chateau or galavanting through a rustic Italian vineyard.—
Morgan Evans,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
Adverb
-
Sánchez owns the longest scoreless streak in Phillies history — since at least 1893, when the current mound distance was set — and probably even before that.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
This is another issue where rapid technology innovation has probably hurt math instruction.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Historically, the community in Putumayo has been concerned about possible links between paramilitary groups and others connected to oil companies.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
All ingredients are local and sourced from no further than 13 miles from the hotel, and are organic where possible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
In braids and a bright yellow fishing bib, with her dog Claude at her side and a witty interjection always on the tip of her tongue, Maude climbs onto her trusty little boat and sets a course for the open sea.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Durable enough to handle the elements, this waterproof light features a comfortable elastic strap and a bright, adjustable beam that improves visibility while keeping both hands free for unloading luggage, handling car repairs, or setting up camp in the dark.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 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 2 Jun. 2026.
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