unlikely

adjective

un·​like·​ly ˌən-ˈlī-klē How to pronounce unlikely (audio)
Synonyms of unlikelynext
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely outcome
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
an unlikely place to see much wildlife

Synonyms of unlikely

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Examples of unlikely in a Sentence

He was an unlikely candidate for the position. A big city seems like an unlikely place to find wildlife. I received support from an unlikely ally.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite the hefty reservation payments, the Roadster is unlikely to become a major revenue source for Tesla. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 The deal was therefore unlikely to meaningfully strengthen Russia's war finances, Aleksashenko said. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026 Resources were unlikely to reach the islands for three to five days, according to Saturday updates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The circumstances would have to be just right, and such a situation would be incredibly unlikely to occur. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unlikely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unlikely was in the 14th century

Rhymes for unlikely

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Browse Nearby Words

unlikeliness
unlikely
unlikeness
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Cite this Entry

“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlikely. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unlikely

adjective
un·​like·​ly ˌən-ˈlī-klē How to pronounce unlikely (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely story
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
an unlikely place for fishing
unlikeliness noun
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