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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of likely
Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
But the measure is likely to be scrapped by incoming president Donald Trump.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
These proto-spinning wheels likely played a key role in the transition to an agricultural lifestyle in the Neolithic period, and inspired the development of the cart wheels of the Bronze age.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for likely 
Adjective
Armed with that information, off-roading is a lot less likely to be marred by choking, toxic smoke that comes along with dangerous levels of combustion if users know which areas to avoid.
—Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
But the measure is likely to be scrapped by incoming president Donald Trump.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
In a study published on November 14th in Geochemical Perspective Letters, the experts explained that isotopic dating and analysis provides chemical evidence that the Lafayette Meteorite mostly likely interacted with liquid water while the rock first formed roughly 742 million years ago.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
These proto-spinning wheels likely played a key role in the transition to an agricultural lifestyle in the Neolithic period, and inspired the development of the cart wheels of the Bronze age.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
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Second, Schipper said, the probable trifecta of controlling the presidency and both chambers of Congress further increases the likelihood that Trump can enact his fiscal agenda.Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024
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Independent of the probable timeline for making repairs to Tropicana Field, it can't be used as an outdoor venue either, because the stadium was not engineered to drain rainwater away from the field.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Viewers got tired of the endless bait-and-switches, and the promising and smart show of Lois & Clark’s first season slowly sputtered out by its fourth.Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Such a promising shift was apparently driven in part by nationwide efforts to increase testing among pregnant women.Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The only plausible way Europe can achieve what the authors lay out is by turning the European Union into a supranational empire, with all the resultant repressions that come from creating such an entity.Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
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The Thin Line Self-government implies a plausible connection between the governing and the governed—an authentic dialogue that allows for dispute and informs deliberation.Penny Abeywardena, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Today’s blockbuster titles rely on robust engines like Unity and Unreal to push pretty polygons, engines made for companies and people already seriously dedicated to game development as a career.PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
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The litter box scoop holder ($28) is quite pretty, and that's hard to say about a litter box scoop.Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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If these workers are deported, the food industry will probably have great difficulty replacing them.Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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Loading your audio article Of all the overseas leaders avidly watching the U.S. election results, the two happiest were probably Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Returning to school as quickly as possible, with appropriate support, and getting light exercise that doesn’t pose a head injury risk are important first steps in concussion recovery, and in line with the latest research.Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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Get as much done as possible today, because your drive will fizzle by evening.Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Led by some of the brightest minds in fashion, the event will help attendees elevate their expertise and stay informed.SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
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The new stars are still burning bright, but astronomers don’t expect any of them to last more than 10 million years.Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While there have been no credible claims of fraud contributing to Donald Trump’s victory last week and the vote does not appear to have even been close, the election was marred by foreign interference, a commonplace occurrence in every U.S. election since 2016.Colin P. Clarke, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division continues to ask for the public’s assistance and is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for credible information that leads to Mischa Johnson’s recovery.Anna Turning, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near likely
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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