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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of likely
Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
But the measure is likely to be scrapped by incoming president Donald Trump.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
These proto-spinning wheels likely played a key role in the transition to an agricultural lifestyle in the Neolithic period, and inspired the development of the cart wheels of the Bronze age.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for likely 
Adjective
Armed with that information, off-roading is a lot less likely to be marred by choking, toxic smoke that comes along with dangerous levels of combustion if users know which areas to avoid.
—Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
But the measure is likely to be scrapped by incoming president Donald Trump.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
In a study published on November 14th in Geochemical Perspective Letters, the experts explained that isotopic dating and analysis provides chemical evidence that the Lafayette Meteorite mostly likely interacted with liquid water while the rock first formed roughly 742 million years ago.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
These proto-spinning wheels likely played a key role in the transition to an agricultural lifestyle in the Neolithic period, and inspired the development of the cart wheels of the Bronze age.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
Adjective
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More news: Yankees Make Final Pleas to Juan Soto After Game 5 Loss In what amounted to a one-season audition in his free agent walk year, Soto led the American League in runs scored batting ahead of Judge, the probable AL MVP.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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Second, Schipper said, the probable trifecta of controlling the presidency and both chambers of Congress further increases the likelihood that Trump can enact his fiscal agenda.Peter Green, Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Viewers got tired of the endless bait-and-switches, and the promising and smart show of Lois & Clark’s first season slowly sputtered out by its fourth.Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Such a promising shift was apparently driven in part by nationwide efforts to increase testing among pregnant women.Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Still, many sleep researchers have offered their own plausible theories to explain hypnic jerks.Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
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Yet, any behavioral impacts of these chemicals are summarily disavowed when there is plausible causal relationship that has been well-studied in mammals.Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Today’s blockbuster titles rely on robust engines like Unity and Unreal to push pretty polygons, engines made for companies and people already seriously dedicated to game development as a career.PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
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The litter box scoop holder ($28) is quite pretty, and that's hard to say about a litter box scoop.Medea Giordano, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Adverb
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If these workers are deported, the food industry will probably have great difficulty replacing them.Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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Loading your audio article Of all the overseas leaders avidly watching the U.S. election results, the two happiest were probably Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Trump could also take executive action to direct agencies to cut as many unnecessary steps as possible and to simplify their processes.Li Zhou, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024
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Unlike those painters, however, Mathieson had to create his images on location with an army of collaborators and the challenge of crafting beautiful images when Scott’s preference is to shoot with as many cameras as possible — something Mathieson says makes lighting exponentially more difficult.Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Of all my habits, the one most crucial for my survival has been my awareness that there is no diamond as bright as me.Essence, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
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Avoid any bright light as this will affect your night vision.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While there have been no credible claims of fraud contributing to Donald Trump’s victory last week and the vote does not appear to have even been close, the election was marred by foreign interference, a commonplace occurrence in every U.S. election since 2016.Colin P. Clarke, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division continues to ask for the public’s assistance and is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for credible information that leads to Mischa Johnson’s recovery.Anna Turning, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near likely
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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