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
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 14 May 2026
More of that is likely Thursday.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 May 2026
Those colleagues have likely not heard the last word on the potential benefits of deregulation.
—Matt Peterson,steve Liesman, CNBC, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
That election is likely to take weeks, which could prove too slow for Burnham to enter a leadership contest if Streeting moves quickly.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 14 May 2026
More of that is likely Thursday.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Adverb
His certainty comes after Lisa Ribacoff-Mooney, a polygraph expert and the owner of Interpoint Investigative Services, told RadarOnline that Guthrie is likely dead and she will probably never be found, because authorities just don’t know where to look.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 May 2026
Those colleagues have likely not heard the last word on the potential benefits of deregulation.
—Matt Peterson,steve Liesman, CNBC, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
Eight of those cases have been laboratory confirmed for Andes virus infection, while two are considered probable cases.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
Besides wanting to back the probable winner (Bass) who can help deliver lucrative new contracts, the police union also has reasons to spite Raman.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
For members of the state’s business community, that was a promising focus, one that closely aligned with their own goals.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
The three hitters who drove in runs that inning, Shohei Ohtani, Andy Pages and Kyle Tucker, had been trending upward at the plate of late, a promising sign for an offense overdue for a hot streak.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Totally possible, totally plausible.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Who is murdered, why and Clare’s entanglement in the whole deal unfold over the remainder of the novel, featuring much tighter and more plausible plotting than your average suspense story.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the grimness of the scene, the tone of the song is peppy and disorientingly pretty, with a shivery Dorian twist in its churning melody.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
19 May 2026
-
In fact, there were a lot of pretty curiosities to ogle at, bursting with color and fun costume-party energy (note the many party hats).—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
19 May 2026
Adverb
-
Some portion of eligible people are probably discouraged from applying at all, believing the lottery system to be rigged or pointless.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
The Chargers’ last game was a playoff loss to Vrabel’s Patriots, so nothing short of an edict from the NFL probably would have stopped the franchise’s social media team from referencing the Vrabel-Russini controversy.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
From the standpoint of productivity, however, ephemera often seems counter to efficiency—to getting a coherent story down on paper and ready for publication as soon as humanly possible.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Investigators are examining possible anti-Islamic writings found in the car where police found the dead suspects, two senior law enforcement officials said.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Because a bright sky helps subdue Venus's glare, this is a good time to inspect the planet telescopically, though its gibbous disk remains rather small and approximately seven-eighths illuminated.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
The trick is not to chase every bright idea.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
For boards and executive teams, the focus is on developing clear insight and practical capabilities that support timely, credible responses when reputational challenges emerge.—
John M. Bremen,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
McFarlane has won just one of his five matches, the semi-final against Leeds, but did also earn credible 1-1 draws at Manchester City (in January) and Liverpool.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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