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
Maria Aspan, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
Other likely to book up far in advance are farm-to-table spot Bramble & Hare, Tomahawk-slinging Steakhouse No. 316, elevated Mexican outpost Cozobi Fonda Fina and tapas restaurant Corrida, notable for its view of the surrounding Flatirons and an equally breathtaking Queso Asado.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
Jay King, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Carroll will likely spend this season learning behind Namdi Obiazor and Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who is also having a good camp, but Carroll should see plenty of playing time as the lead reserve in the linebacker room.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Investment bank JPMorgan on Thursday warned that the tariffs are likely to push the U.S. and the world into a recession.
—Maria Aspan, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
Other likely to book up far in advance are farm-to-table spot Bramble & Hare, Tomahawk-slinging Steakhouse No. 316, elevated Mexican outpost Cozobi Fonda Fina and tapas restaurant Corrida, notable for its view of the surrounding Flatirons and an equally breathtaking Queso Asado.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
Adverb
On one drive to the baseline past the smaller Tyus Jones, Brown likely would have risen for a dunk if entirely healthy.
—Jay King, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Carroll will likely spend this season learning behind Namdi Obiazor and Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who is also having a good camp, but Carroll should see plenty of playing time as the lead reserve in the linebacker room.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
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Next week, the Mavericks will strive to fend off a pair of sub-.500 clubs, the 23-51 Brooklyn Nets and the 35-38 Atlanta Hawks, at home in American Airlines Arena before heading to Tinseltown to suit up against another probable lower playoff seed in the West, the 42-31 L.A. Clippers.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2025
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Will regulatory agencies translate the pro-innovation rhetoric of their probable leaders into concrete, consistent rules that the industry can rely on?—
Tonya M. Evans,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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One of the most promising applications is workforce assistance, particularly in industries facing labor shortages, such as healthcare.—
Melody Brue,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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The bottom of the Jezero Crater – believed to have formed 3.9 billion years ago from a massive impact – is considered to be among the most promising areas on Mars to search for evidence of ancient life.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The commonalities begin with a propensity to juggle more projects, more or less simultaneously, than would seem humanly plausible.—
Michael Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
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Dongju Zhang, an archaeologist and professor at China’s Lanzhou University who wasn’t involved in the study, said both hypotheses were plausible, if speculative.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Much like Grey’s, Pulse — which dropped its 10-episode first season on Thursday — focuses on two very pretty doctors (Willa Fitzgerald’s Danny Simms and Colin Woodell’s Xander Phillips) who become romantically entangled, complicating their jobs at a local hospital.—
Rebecca Luther,
TVLine,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The close-up view from here just wasn’t always pretty.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Adverb
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However, for tech-minded shoppers, the sale’s most exciting deals probably involve Apple products.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
1 Apr. 2025
-
If neither of the Jags’ only real Florida options for 2027 — Orlando or the University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville — offered to pay the ransom money, that would probably do it.—
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Russian troops often carve that backs off their assault cars’ cabs in order to facilitate a quick exit, so there was nothing but a possible thin screen to stop an FPV that barreled toward the anti-tank mine resting in the back of one idling Lada.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Citing the sheriff's office, WESH reported that deputies initially responded to a report of a possible shooting at the couple's home in Orlo Vista, just west of Orlando, at around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Both O’Mara and McMahon believe that Pickle has a bright future ahead.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Apr. 2025
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The trailer unfolded to the atmospheric music of Nine Inch Nails and overflows with atmospheric details — bright red bikes race down highways, slicing cop cars in half.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In 2022, under the creative direction of Triple H, Kross, and Scarlett made a dramatic return to WWE, immediately establishing themselves as a credible threat in the SmackDown main event scene by targeting Drew McIntyre.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
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While she was deemed a high performer, she was not deemed a credible C-suite leader.—
Terina Allen,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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