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
Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Accumulating rainfall looks increasingly likely on Tuesday, March 31st in a buzzer-beater that may mean the final numbers will fall short of such a record, though the overall trend will remain.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026
Sam McNeil, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
The sources told Reuters operations at the refinery would likely remain offline for several days.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Adjective
Like any vending machine, supplies are limited, so the higher payouts are likely to sell out quickly, with no plans to restock during the first come, first served promotion.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Accumulating rainfall looks increasingly likely on Tuesday, March 31st in a buzzer-beater that may mean the final numbers will fall short of such a record, though the overall trend will remain.
—Greg Porter, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
No single policy will likely work to blunt the economic shocks from the war across the bloc's myriad markets from Romania to Ireland.
—Sam McNeil, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
The sources told Reuters operations at the refinery would likely remain offline for several days.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
-
Rookie standout Kon Knueppel (lower back soreness) is listed as probable for Tuesday’s game against the Kings.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Adebayo upgraded In the wake of being held out in Charlotte due to tightness in his right calf, Adebayo on Wednesday was listed as probable to return Thursday night against the Lakers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This was the approach that, a little more than a decade ago, surfaced a promising new kind of malaria drug that entered clinical trials first in South Africa and then in Ethiopia.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
-
This work highlights a promising path for precisely tuning material stiffness and shaping mechanical properties on demand.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There was something about Norris — his deadpan delivery, his stoic demeanor, his sheer physical presence — that made the impossible feats attributed to him feel almost plausible, or at least hilariously perfect.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
-
During lockdown, when a new generation of Discord-dwelling shitposters came of age, the idea of attributing a musical form to the digital world felt more plausible.—
Pitchfork,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course there’s familiarity with some of these people, but also there’s just this pretty bananas range of physicalities and looks and experience, literal experiences.—
Joe Lynch,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Specifically, Chris Miller voiced a desire to make Rocky’s language sound pretty.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Baker would probably love People’s, a new referral-only cocktail lounge in the West Village.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Using such a large share of the river for cattle feed probably isn’t sustainable.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
On Tuesday, there were some indications from Washington on a possible de-escalation in the Mideast conflict.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This warmer weather refresh of chicken and biscuits shakes up both the filling and topping for a lighter and brighter take on the classic.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
-
For generations in Korea, people saved the milky water left over from rinsing rice and used it as a simple beauty treatment to make skin look brighter and smoother.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Himes asked if there was credible evidence pointing to foreign interference in that election.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
If the person has made a specific and credible threat of violence, notify law enforcement.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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