unlikely
adjective
un·like·ly
ˌən-ˈlī-klē 
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely outcome
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
an unlikely place to see much wildlife
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
The series follows a teenage boy who forms an unlikely alliance with the Fairy Queen of Celtic lore to search for malevolent mythical creatures from around the world, among them the Yeti, Baba Yaga and a Lady Dracula — not to destroy them, but to save them from impending doom.
—
Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Those seem unlikely to materialize amid ongoing negotiations.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
White House policies look unlikely to drastically change in the next few months.
—Frédéric Dimanche, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The compound was shown to be well-absorbed by the body and unlikely to be toxic at therapeutic levels.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
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Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Those seem unlikely to materialize amid ongoing negotiations.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
White House policies look unlikely to drastically change in the next few months.
—Frédéric Dimanche, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The compound was shown to be well-absorbed by the body and unlikely to be toxic at therapeutic levels.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlikely
Cite this Entry
“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlikely. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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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