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
Phillip Reese, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
And because Cosmos 482 was designed to reach the surface of Venus — where the atmosphere is 90 times denser than Earth’s — the probe is likely to reach the ground intact.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2025
Prices are dropping all across the state, and will likely continue to drop for years due to an oversupply of housing combined with record lack of affordability.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Those disparities are suggestive of gaps seen in remote-work patterns: Wealthier, urban Californians are more likely to work from home than lower-income, rural residents.
—Phillip Reese, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
And because Cosmos 482 was designed to reach the surface of Venus — where the atmosphere is 90 times denser than Earth’s — the probe is likely to reach the ground intact.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
Adverb
However, Hogg’s intransigence proves that Democrats will likely need to give way to younger leaders or risk more public internal drama that distracts from countering the Trump administration.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2025
Prices are dropping all across the state, and will likely continue to drop for years due to an oversupply of housing combined with record lack of affordability.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
The Leafs were always more probable than not to lose this series and the odds now are greatly stacked against them.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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Without human oversight, brand language may drift toward the generic, the probable, and the forgettable.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Taken altogether, the designers believe their creation offers a promising alternative to far more expensive robots that require heavy-duty equipment and programming—often at exponentially higher cost.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
8 May 2025
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Businesses offering promising technologies are finding capital is available.—
Trevor Clawson,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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But what happened on the first floor of the McCormick Place West Convention Center in downtown Chicago was hardly plausible.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
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Uttering them gives Santos plausible deniability, but Raposo still doesn’t buy it.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Their romance proceeds in soft focus with a soundtrack of accelerated heartbeats and musical interludes, as well as pretty camera shots of raindrops flashing in the sun.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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How to Watch Warriors vs Timberwolves Game 2: Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025 Time: 8:30 PM ET Channel: TNT, truTV Stream: Sling (WATCH) Golden State stole Game 1 on the road, but paid a pretty price in losing Stephen Curry to a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for at least a week.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
Adverb
-
And the attitude and look of the New York Dolls attitude informed L.A. glam a decade and a half later, which is ironic, probably more ironic than the Brooklyn Dodgers moving to L.A.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
5 May 2025
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The most prominent red flag: Malachy probably didn't even write the list, which entered the historical record hundreds of years after his death.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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This is where strategic thinking becomes impactful, as leaders start operating collectively with others to redefine what is possible.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
Quail Hollow is getting weird Welcome to the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where nothing makes sense and anything is possible.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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This compact residence is packed with standout features such as double-paned glass doors and wall-to-wall windows that create a bright, open, airy feel.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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The bright citrus perfectly complements the bergamot and apple in Madison Ave, creating a juicier, more vibrant experience that’s perfect for daytime wear.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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For brands, early adoption sends a credible signal of sustainability leadership to consumers and investors while securing long-term supply chain resilience.—
Ken Katz,
Sourcing Journal,
5 May 2025
-
Baffert throughout has maintained his innocence, arguing that Medina Spirit’s positive arose from an ointment given to the horse for a skin rash – a credible explanation but not a provable one, according to lab testing experts.—
Katie Bo Lillis,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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