Synonyms of unlikely

unlikely

adjective

ˌən-ˈlī-klē 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• doubtful
• dubious
• questionable
• improbable
• impossible
• bizarre
• odd
• far-fetched
• flimsy
• incredible
• fantastic
• inconceivable
• implausible
• ridiculous
• unthinkable
• unapt
• absurd
• unimaginable
• unbelievable
• foolish
• crazy
• outlandish
• insane
• nonsensical
• unreal
• preposterous
• slight
• outside
• remote
• wild

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• likely
• probable
• possible
• plausible
• conceivable
• potential
• credible
• earthly
• liable
• believable
• imaginable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unlikely

Nationwide, investments in computing power sparked by the new technology of artificial intelligence have set off a commercial land rush, sending property values soaring in unlikely and out-of-the-way places. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026

In the late nineties and two-thousands, Hsu and his daredevil friends had proudly put their sleepy Silicon Valley city on the map as an unlikely skateboarding capital. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Because the costs of Social Security and Medicare are rising faster than revenues, growth alone is unlikely to meaningfully reduce budget deficits. — Josh Boak, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

The two most prominent, Hebrew and Yiddish, have always been unlikely bedfellows, frequently fighting with each other. — Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026