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
This unlikely crew bands together for a zany mission full of hijinks and false starts.
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Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Langer’s unlikely 30-foot putt for birdie capped a thrilling, down to the wire season-ending tournament.
—Candace Oehler, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
They're paired up as roommates and forge an unlikely friendship, but after an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), Glinda and Elphaba go down two starkly different paths.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024
While Vance's departure also offers DeWine an opportunity to alleviate a bottleneck at the top of Ohio Republicans' political pecking order, where Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost are preparing to face off for governor in 2026, that appears unlikely.
—CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unlikely 
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Langer’s unlikely 30-foot putt for birdie capped a thrilling, down to the wire season-ending tournament.
—Candace Oehler, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
They're paired up as roommates and forge an unlikely friendship, but after an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), Glinda and Elphaba go down two starkly different paths.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024
While Vance's departure also offers DeWine an opportunity to alleviate a bottleneck at the top of Ohio Republicans' political pecking order, where Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost are preparing to face off for governor in 2026, that appears unlikely.
—CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unlikely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlikely
Adjective
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Brooks is officially doubtful to return with what is being called a knee injury.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
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And the people around him, ecstatic around this choice, the people, the close advisers -- although there were many doubtful as to whether this is a pick that’s going to be confirmed.ABC News, ABC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And at the Christmas party, with the flow of dubious punch, (that no one in their right mind would serve at any other time of the year), after about 9 or 10 p.m., the man hugging becomes a competitive sport.Louis J. Esterhazy, WWD, 8 Dec. 2024
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Though dubious in concept, the effect is peculiarly, if superficially, enticing.Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Now playing at the Belasco Theatre. 1. 'Oh, Mary!' With her short legs and long medleys, crazed first lady Mary Todd Lincoln has become an improbable pop-culture sensation, thanks to the deranged genius of playwright/actor Cole Escola.Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
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If Fishman’s math holds up, ESPN could be looking at a 20% boost in overall revenue in just seven years’ time—a feat that likely would be wholly improbable if the sports unit were to maintain the status quo or promote the streaming tyro at the expense of the foundational TV network.Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The political left, especially George Soros, have worked for racial divide by pushing very questionable theories of victimhood.Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Dec. 2024
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The industry’s knowledge base remains alarmingly shallow, leading to questionable valuations and incomplete business cases.Kjartan Rist, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near unlikely
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlikely. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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