unlikely
adjective
un·like·ly
ˌən-ˈlī-klē 
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely outcome
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
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
So worst-case would be a fifth-place finish, which is unlikely.
—
Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Trump is unlikely to allow India’s policy toward Ukraine to determine the future of a U.S.-India deal or a thaw in trade tensions, for example, and likewise with China.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
The Chiefs are unlikely to return to the voters with anything other than a tax reserved for one thing and one thing only.
—Sam McDowell July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
Democratic pushback against President Donald Trump’s crypto dealmaking means Republicans are also unlikely to rack up the same level of bipartisan support as last Congress.
—semafor.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
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Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Trump is unlikely to allow India’s policy toward Ukraine to determine the future of a U.S.-India deal or a thaw in trade tensions, for example, and likewise with China.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
The Chiefs are unlikely to return to the voters with anything other than a tax reserved for one thing and one thing only.
—Sam McDowell July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
Democratic pushback against President Donald Trump’s crypto dealmaking means Republicans are also unlikely to rack up the same level of bipartisan support as last Congress.
—semafor.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlikely. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unlikely
adjective
un·like·ly
ˌən-ˈlī-klē
ˈən-
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely story
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
an unlikely place for fishing
unlikeliness
noun
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