1
as in probable
having a high chance of occurring
if you don't graduate from high school, your likely fate is a low-paying job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope
this looks like a likely spot for good trout fishing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in plausible
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable
we didn't find her excuse a very likely story
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pretty
very pleasing to look at
a likely gal such as yourself should have no trouble getting a date
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in probably
by reasonable assumption
the picnic will likely be cancelled if the storm continues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of likely
Caz Pereira, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
If a mom or dad has environmental or food allergies, their child is more likely to have allergies.
—Breanne Hayes Haney, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Over time, however, solar wind and radiation likely siphoned away the Martian atmosphere, gradually thinning it to the point where carbon dioxide began transforming into rock.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Best Practices For Successful Partnerships And Outcomes Personal experience within our organization has shown that when companies stick with students throughout the entire process, the students are more likely to complete their education and transition into careers.
—Caz Pereira, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
If a mom or dad has environmental or food allergies, their child is more likely to have allergies.
—Breanne Hayes Haney, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Lagarde said there would likely be some re-routing of goods supplied by markets that are facing higher duties, and other policies that do not necessarily link to trade, but fiscal matters and investments, were also at play.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
Over time, however, solar wind and radiation likely siphoned away the Martian atmosphere, gradually thinning it to the point where carbon dioxide began transforming into rock.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
The presence of at least six US B-2 stealth bombers in the Indian Ocean and a second aircraft carrier in the Middle East only fueled speculation in Israel that a strike was not only possible, but increasingly probable.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
-
In Europe, projections showed a probable increase in Ambrosia—or ragweed pollen—also linked to rising temperatures.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Thus, despite the U.S. trade situation looking more promising for much of the world, experts say that U.S.-China negotiations remain the most important variable for Apple.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2025
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Farther away from China lies an even more promising strategic opportunity.—
Linggong Kong,
The Conversation,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Even if the text itself seems plausible, the link is a telltale red flag.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Using bioenergetic modeling — a method that uses mathematical simulations to quantify the energy needed to make and break chemical bonds in a biological system — the team attempted to identify a plausible scenario in which life could emerge on Titan.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Of course, the star of the show is the pretty, spring-ready pattern with its prominent tulips.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Apr. 2025
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In Weekend 2 The Happiest Hour Drift Hotel Palm Springs gets bonus points for offering up resort day passes to its pretty pool with the killer mountain views, but also high fives for a weekly poolside happy hour on Thursdays.—
Leslie Kelly,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Adverb
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Honestly, the matzo balls are probably going to be better.—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
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The Mini Countryman's biggest problem is probably the Hyundai Kona EV, which not only goes a lot further on a single charge but also has a starting price that's more than $12,000 cheaper, albeit with about 100 hp (75 kW) less to play with.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In the image, the girl group smiled while on a beach at night, as a bright, full moon could be seen in the sky behind them.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
An off-white maxi dress covered in black poppies, their graphic petals bloomed open and surrounded by pops of bright red berries.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Vogue,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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To focus, with a credible Stanley Cup shot, on making a window extending move for a bona fide elite player, speaks volumes about what Stars management believed mattered most.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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Related Articles Since 2019, Lyst has become a credible source for the fashion industry on what’s trending with its quarterly brand and product rankings.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The vast majority of the city’s industrial jobs remained low paying, dangerous, and only attractive to the most desperate Americans until the 1940s.—
Made by History,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
-
These rooms, and the rest of the interior, have just been professionally repainted using attractive colors.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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