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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of likely
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
Cori Clingman, 25, made the plea in Maryland court and is likely to serve three years in prison.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
The stadium name will likely be determined by the District of Columbia Council and National Park Service.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
As dealmaking activity picks back up, Bank of America highlighted Domino’s Pizza and Universal Health Services among the most likely candidates for a potential merger or acquisition.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
Cori Clingman, 25, made the plea in Maryland court and is likely to serve three years in prison.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
Alex Wong | Getty Images Swelling health insurance premiums will likely have many consequences for households, according to health policy experts.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
The stadium name will likely be determined by the District of Columbia Council and National Park Service.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
Sama was limited last week against Arizona State, but he was listed as probable on the player availability report.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Murray is listed as probable for Wednesday night’s game.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Browns Cleveland boasts an elite defense led by the league’s best pass rusher, an owner who spends more cash than any other team and a promising nucleus from the 2025 draft class.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Creativity, romance and pleasure take on a more serious tone, and a connection could feel both exciting and promising.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The most plausible entrant may be a late-season episode of Strictly Come Dancing, which could creep into the lower echelons of the top 10.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
-
First is that the upbeat thesis is fully rational and plausible.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These come in a pretty off-white champagne color, along with a cool purple, chocolate brown, and greige (grayish beige).—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Furniture needs to do more than look pretty to earn its keep.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
That probably stems from the extraordinary effort his players have produced across this block of fixtures.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Newsom’s closure of that highway, where shrapnel actually fell on police vehicles, probably saved both lives and plenty of property damage.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The study offers rare, direct evidence of this process by tracking cool gas across entire galaxies, something that was not possible before large surveys like MaNGA.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Ehrlich noted the short careers for college athletes and wondered whether a union for collective bargaining is even possible.—
ANDREW DESTIN,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bure is keeping her faith — and her Christmas crown — shining bright.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Researchers have discovered the brightest and most powerful flare ever seen from a supermassive black hole.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There is no credible data, experts say, showing the fever-reducer isn’t safe when it’s used correctly.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
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Exit readiness refers to being strategically prepared for a sale or public offering, highlighting strong performance, credible growth potential, and operational improvements to attract buyers.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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