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
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
But as soon as the internet’s favorite couple, Zendaya and Holland, stop walking red carpets and doing press together, audiences are likely to put superhero movies on the back burner once again.
—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
If passed, the ordinance will likely not have much resident support.
—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Critics, on the other hand, warn wealthy individuals may move assets abroad or prove less likely to start businesses or other ventures.
—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
But as soon as the internet’s favorite couple, Zendaya and Holland, stop walking red carpets and doing press together, audiences are likely to put superhero movies on the back burner once again.
—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Adverb
Students are unlikely to seek large loans for doctoral study in a field offering mostly low-paying jobs, and current loan limits are likely sufficient for those seeking two-year master’s degrees.
—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
If passed, the ordinance will likely not have much resident support.
—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
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Verbeek also has lost four key defensemen — captain Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba, John Carlson and Olen Zellweger — in the past month while adding only journeyman Nick Jensen as a probable replacement.
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Lowe’s matchup is arguably the best for hitting a home run on Saturday’s MLB slate, given the sample sizes of the probable pitchers.
Adjective
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Methane is widely regarded as one of the most promising fuels for reusable rockets and future interplanetary missions.
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But since train-and-pray programs are unlikely to close the construction talent gap, three other initiatives are more promising.
Adjective
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Completing their sentences with what sounds plausible is not preservation.
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There are plausible performance reasons why the Norwegian football team shipped around 1,276 pounds or 580 kilograms of food from its country to its temporary headquarters at Greensboro, North Carolina, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Adjective
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The prettiest man in football landed a nasty elbow to Ireland’s Dara O’ Shea and was justifiably handed a red card.
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These pretty vine decals can liven up the look of tiles or a shower door.
Adverb
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The concept would probably face opposition from Altadenans who have rallied by the hundreds to oppose building permits for multiple homes on individual parcels.
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But that’s probably more a 2027 story than a 2026 one, as both governments look to see the path oil prices take, noted Kaneva.
Adjective
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
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The idea behind the lunch- and afternoon tea–only restaurant is to waste as little as possible.
Adjective
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Charlie Carballo Ed Sheeran, who's been rumored to perform at the wedding festivities, made his way to MSG wearing a bright blue suit alongside wife Cherry Seaborn.
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Work with Your Design Style A color this bright and energetic couldn’t possibly be versatile, too, right?
Adjective
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The growing pile of credible critics is a direct challenge to that thesis.
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And where keeping a credible open option does demand serious compute, that is precisely the kind of public good worth paying for.
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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