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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of likely
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Abner King, the CEO of Syringa Hospital and Clinics, the lone hospital in the small farming community of Grangeville in rural north-central Idaho, said the cuts to Medicaid will likely exacerbate his hospital’s finances.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Flights have now been resumed, though delays persist, and are likely to continue.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Adverb
That means the next time these teams meet will likely have to be in either a bowl game or the College Football Playoff.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Abner King, the CEO of Syringa Hospital and Clinics, the lone hospital in the small farming community of Grangeville in rural north-central Idaho, said the cuts to Medicaid will likely exacerbate his hospital’s finances.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
The map shows red pins representing incidents that state and federal wildlife biologists have said were confirmed or probable wolf attacks on livestock.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Gabriel Muniz Jimenez, 33, died inside his cell due to a probable drug overdose on May 21, according to a spokesman for the medical examiner's office.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With a combined score of 15, Leavitt is off to a promising start in the competition.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Then that data went to at least two or three judges for review, while all the most promising creams, tools, and polishes were passed out to Allure editors for testing.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
With Israel striking Doha — the city the US and Israel chose to host negotiations with Hamas — the theory seems more plausible than ever.—
Hadley Gamble,
semafor.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Way thinks that a more plausible suspect in Venus’ demise is a form of ruinous volcanism.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This may seem trivial, but Brümate’s coolers almost look too pretty to knock around, and indeed dropping them on my driveway did create some scuffs that took away from the overall sleek aesthetic.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
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This pretty queen quilt bedding set from Great Bay Home is 90 inches x 90 inches and comes with two shams that are 20 inches x 26 inches.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The minimum fine for infractions is $200, indicating that this is probably Clark’s first such offense this season.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Thus, the Browns probably don't feel comfortable transitioning away from Flacco before October 12 in Pittsburgh.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
New frontiers in medical use The ability to control the metamaterial remotely makes new medical applications possible.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
-
More importantly, Nvidia continues to focus on the entire data center as a single system to ensure that all potential performance bottlenecks are addressed, resulting in the highest possible performance efficiency and ROI.—
Jim McGregor,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The team crowded around Johnson and offered hugs with celebratory cheers, shaking him around as Johnson got a bright smile on his face.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The 18-year-old who was bright, was removed when Reinildo was sent off.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Larsen makes Didi’s absurd actions feel credible, something a woman frustrated with her own life would do, in haste, on behalf of another.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
But these surveys, many of them credible and worth considering, often spit out different data, allowing interested readers to draw different, sometimes contradictory, conclusions.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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