as in doubtful
not likely to be true or to occur
in the unlikely event that the file is deleted or corrupted, you will want to have backup copies available
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Recent Examples of unlikely
That is unlikely to go over well with Prince William, according to recent reports.
—
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 27 Oct. 2025
Wisconsin's state legislature is unlikely to provide state funding to continue the program.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Based on Harold Gray’s comic strip, the Tony-winning musical follows a plucky orphan and her dog who find an unlikely home with Daddy Warbucks.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Some reports have Putin claiming that the missile can reach hypersonic speeds in excess of Mach 5, though this is highly unlikely.
—David Szondy
october 26, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 27 Oct. 2025
Wisconsin's state legislature is unlikely to provide state funding to continue the program.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Based on Harold Gray’s comic strip, the Tony-winning musical follows a plucky orphan and her dog who find an unlikely home with Daddy Warbucks.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Some reports have Putin claiming that the missile can reach hypersonic speeds in excess of Mach 5, though this is highly unlikely.
—David Szondy
october 26, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlikely
Adjective
-
Tackle Josh Simmons is out due to a personal matter, while guard Trey Smith is doubtful with a back injury.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
According to the initial player availability report, Horned Frogs offensive lineman Cade Bennett, wide receiver Ed Small and running back Jeremy Payne are all listed as doubtful.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Potential adversaries interpret political action in zero-sum terms; see malice and evil design in mere blunders and coincidence; trumpet necessity rather than navigate choice; and, in extreme cases, invent pretext or promise profit to make more palatable a dubious cause.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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At least one, upon replay, looked more than … dubious.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Opposing independence exceeds not supporting it, and would foreclose the possibility, however improbable, that both sides might one day amicably part ways.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
-
More importantly, Flacco has helped the Bengals stay in contention for the AFC North division title, something that seemed improbable when franchise QB Joe Burrow went down with an injury early in the season.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But for Dylan, going from Jew to Jesus freak—however slack a Jew he’d been—was no more questionable or embarrassing to him than going from acoustic to electric.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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But Gates said that past investments fighting climate change have been misplaced, and too much good money has been put into expensive and questionable efforts.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlikely. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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