as in probability
the quality or state of being likely to occur
the weatherman on TV said that the likelihood of rain today was fairly high
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of likelihood
Fed funds futures are pricing in a 100% likelihood of at least a quarter-point decrease today, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
—
Alex Harring, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Quilts should be washed in front-loading machines only to reduce the likelihood of damage.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Those disagreements once again raise the likelihood of a government shutdown when funding runs out Sept. 30.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Alex Harring, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
Quilts should be washed in front-loading machines only to reduce the likelihood of damage.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Those disagreements once again raise the likelihood of a government shutdown when funding runs out Sept. 30.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likelihood
probability
Noun
-
An investor may need to adjust future cash flows if the studio relies on loot boxes in regions where probability disclosures are trending toward mandatory.—
Dmitrii Khasanov,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likelihood. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share