as in doubtful
not likely to be true or to occur
in the unlikely event that the file is deleted or corrupted, you will want to have backup copies available
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Recent Examples of unlikely
All were unlikely beneficiaries this week of pardons, with President Donald Trump flexing his executive power to bestow clemency on political allies, prominent public figures and others convicted of defrauding the public.
—
Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
The unlikely trio begins working backward, reexamining the missing person’s case and trying to determine what avenues and signs were previously overlooked.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
The Christmas Affair follows superstar sportscasters Natalie (Cook) and Gabe (Prinze Jr.), who form an unlikely alliance after their spouses are caught cheating weeks before Christmas.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 May 2025
Not cut out for heroics, inept ant soldiers Arnie and Barney decide to tackle the problem by themselves, inadvertently becoming the most unlikely of heroes in the process.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
The unlikely trio begins working backward, reexamining the missing person’s case and trying to determine what avenues and signs were previously overlooked.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
The Christmas Affair follows superstar sportscasters Natalie (Cook) and Gabe (Prinze Jr.), who form an unlikely alliance after their spouses are caught cheating weeks before Christmas.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 29 May 2025
Not cut out for heroics, inept ant soldiers Arnie and Barney decide to tackle the problem by themselves, inadvertently becoming the most unlikely of heroes in the process.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlikely
Adjective
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Allen set a course record in the victory and sent a postcard to her doubtful doctor afterward.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
25 May 2025
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The marathon meeting came and went as House Republican leaders are looking to get the Trump agenda bill through the chamber by Memorial Day, an ambitious timeline that some lawmakers are doubtful of.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Sakara also has health supplements (which can be scientifically dubious), like a metabolism booster and fulvic acid cell reset.—
Molly Higgins,
Wired News,
29 May 2025
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Republican consultant Kevin Madden, who was a senior adviser to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, was dubious about her chances in either race.—
Michael R. Blood,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks were able to pull off an improbable Game 3 win in the Eastern Conference Finals on the road against the Indiana Pacers.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
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Just getting to the point where one pitch could win the game seemed improbable for most of the day.—
Alex Cole,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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While many supplements are questionable at best, some of the hype about creatine seems warranted; even the International Olympic Committee has it on a short list of four supplements that are largely safe and proven effective for athletes.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
28 May 2025
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Overall, there are some reasonable ideas scattered throughout the executive orders (though whether their implementation ends up being reasonable is questionable, especially given DOGE's involvement).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlikely. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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