improbable
adjective
im·prob·a·ble
(ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-bəl 
-ˈpräb-bəl
: unlikely to be true or to occur
also
: unlikely but real or true
Synonyms
Examples of improbable in a Sentence
The team made an improbable comeback.
it seems improbable that the two writers never met since they traveled in the same social circles
Recent Examples on the Web
The Heat enters as heavy underdogs despite making an improbable run to the NBA Finals as No. 8 seed just last season.
—
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
DeChambeau’s improbable birdie on 18 — wayward drive into the trees, punch out, hole out from fairway — brought him within striking distance, four shots back.
—Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2024
Most cases of Parkinson’s aren’t inherited but sporadic, and early studies suggested a genetic basis was improbable.
—Matthew Farrer, Discover Magazine, 13 Apr. 2024
State’s nine-game surge that led to an ACC Tournament title (the first since 1987) and this improbable Final Four trip.
—NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Basham was then released on a $350,000 bond pending trial — leading to an improbable and disturbing chain of events that began when Basham faked his own suicide.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
To reignite their ambition, Wickie books them an improbable gig at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Thanksgiving.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
Caught by museum staff, and brought before the inspector of police Detective Larramendi — their improbable explanation of a transcendent night in the museum defies reality and his attempts to pin a rule of law, any rule, on an escapade that defines what dreams are made of.
—Marcela Davison Aviles, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
With the title so fresh in his mind, the filmmaker spent much of the session sharing stories from the project’s improbable making of.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
DeChambeau’s improbable birdie on 18 — wayward drive into the trees, punch out, hole out from fairway — brought him within striking distance, four shots back.
—Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2024
Most cases of Parkinson’s aren’t inherited but sporadic, and early studies suggested a genetic basis was improbable.
—Matthew Farrer, Discover Magazine, 13 Apr. 2024
State’s nine-game surge that led to an ACC Tournament title (the first since 1987) and this improbable Final Four trip.
—NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Basham was then released on a $350,000 bond pending trial — leading to an improbable and disturbing chain of events that began when Basham faked his own suicide.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
To reignite their ambition, Wickie books them an improbable gig at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Thanksgiving.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
Caught by museum staff, and brought before the inspector of police Detective Larramendi — their improbable explanation of a transcendent night in the museum defies reality and his attempts to pin a rule of law, any rule, on an escapade that defines what dreams are made of.
—Marcela Davison Aviles, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
With the title so fresh in his mind, the filmmaker spent much of the session sharing stories from the project’s improbable making of.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'improbable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near improbable
Cite this Entry
“Improbable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/improbable. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
improbable
adjective
im·prob·a·ble
(ˈ)im-ˈpräb(-ə)-bəl
: not probable : unlikely to be true or to occur
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