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
Chloe Veltman, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
In a twist of irony for Japan’s likely first female prime minister, her conservatism may not bode well for gender equality issues.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Omar Kelly
october 5, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
The party will likely look to expand its coalition with the moderate centrist Komeito with at least one of the key opposition parties, which are more centrist.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Its use in figuring out what's likely to fly off racks next season involves mining data from many different places.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
In a twist of irony for Japan’s likely first female prime minister, her conservatism may not bode well for gender equality issues.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Expect Malik Washington to serve as the starting receiver paired with Jaylen Waddle, and when Washington moves inside to the slot role the Dolphins will likely have Nick Westbrook-Ikhine or Dee Eskridge on the field as Miami’s flanker.
—Omar Kelly
october 5, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
The party will likely look to expand its coalition with the moderate centrist Komeito with at least one of the key opposition parties, which are more centrist.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
Abramov points out that this does not disprove the Mars life explanation, but rather just presents an alternative, albeit much more probable, explanation for the evidence.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
First a look at the problems, and then the probable reasons.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With Knight looking sharp and stonewalling several promising scoring chances, Boqvist delivered his fourth game-winning goal since signing with the Panthers before last season and ninth of his career.—
Andre Fernandez,
Miami Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
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As part of his homework, Hanke provided a systemic analysis that narrowed a list of 239 potential candidates to the 50 most promising choices.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
On a test called IntPhys, which requires AI models to identify if the actions happening in a video are physically plausible or implausible, V-JEPA was nearly 98% accurate.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The order of magnitude may seem plausible, but the question cannot be answered exactly.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So, pretty people and sunshine are a superficial symptom of something much deeper.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Many in the industry are also concerned another lockout looms about a year from now, and the lead-up hasn’t been pretty.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Franklin has probably been too successful — and is presumably too expensive — to fire.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
While the development of McCarthy is important to the Vikings this season, Wentz probably gives Minnesota the best chance to move the ball against a stout Browns defense.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Outside the home, keep tree branches pruned, and as far away from the house as possible.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Rooms around her, their doors still painted bright yellow from when the hotel was a boutique property, started to empty out.—
Ashley Hiruko,
ProPublica,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The future is bright for this organization.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Abrego Garcia entered the country illegally more than a decade ago but had a court order blocking his deportation to El Salvador over what a judge found was a credible fear of persecution by gangs there.—
Evan Mealins,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
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While Kopalyan and Alili see the Accords as a credible initiative, there are suspicions on the ground in Syunik too—and in particular that Azerbaijani forces could use the deal as a way to ultimately secure control for themselves.—
Michele Crestani,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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