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.
An unlikely walk-off hero, a CGSO, all-around beast pitching, more lead changes than was probably comfortable … ugh, so good. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Chinese leaders have acknowledged that the country’s statist economy leads to involution, or excessive domestic competition and superfluous production—a situation that is unlikely to change any time soon. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 Driscoll was an unlikely negotiator in Ukraine-Russia war Driscoll is an Iraq war veteran, tech investor and former adviser to Vance, whom Driscoll met at Yale Law School. — Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Marks herself later reflected on the unlikely confluence of factors that led to the trip’s cancellation. — Allie Merriam, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 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 4 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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