as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur
it seems improbable that the two writers never met since they traveled in the same social circles
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Recent Examples of improbable
The Knicks would win the next two games to reach the NBA Finals.
8 points, 9 seconds
Miller’s flurry to steal Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals remains one of the most memorable and improbable comebacks in NBA history.
—
Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
We are led through the intricately improbable negotiations by which the Bronfman family, from Montreal, eager for a piece of Hollywood, managed to wrest Universal away from Lew Wasserman.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Bridges’ clutch shot-making down the stretch Monday night proved invaluable as the Knicks completed another improbable come-from-behind win, putting them up 3-1 in the second-round playoff series over the defending champion Celtics.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 May 2025
The Gondoliers haven’t won an upper division championship since 1972 and are trying to follow the same improbable path as last year’s champion, Bell, which hadn’t been to a final since 1953.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for improbable
Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
We are led through the intricately improbable negotiations by which the Bronfman family, from Montreal, eager for a piece of Hollywood, managed to wrest Universal away from Lew Wasserman.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Bridges’ clutch shot-making down the stretch Monday night proved invaluable as the Knicks completed another improbable come-from-behind win, putting them up 3-1 in the second-round playoff series over the defending champion Celtics.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 13 May 2025
The Gondoliers haven’t won an upper division championship since 1972 and are trying to follow the same improbable path as last year’s champion, Bell, which hadn’t been to a final since 1953.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for improbable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improbable
unlikely
Adjective
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Ultimately, though, the Trump ally argued there was unlikely to be a single new face of DOGE.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
31 May 2025
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Whether this particular initiative will materialize remains to be seen, but even without it Jordan is positioning itself as the unlikely runner-up in electromobility after Norway, with great relevance for countries around the world.—
Mattias Goldmann,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Improbable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improbable. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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