Find Antonyms
unlikely Antonyms
Opposite of unlikely
Because the opposite of unlikely shifts with each meaning, the 25 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• adjective (Context 1)
Not likely to happen, be done, or be true; improbable.
Usage Example
"Given the clear skies, rain seems highly likely this afternoon."
Strongest
likely
probable
plausible
Strong
expected
certain
inevitable
believable
credible
foreseeable
sure
• adjective (Context 2)
Unexpected or uncharacteristic in a particular role, situation, or combination; unpromising.
Usage Example
"The quiet librarian became an likely hero during the town's flood relief efforts."
Strongest
likely
expected
Strong
natural
typical
predictable
conventional
promising
obvious
Weak
fitting
characteristic
• adverb (Context 3)
In an improbable manner; with little likelihood.
Usage Example
"The fragile manuscript had likely survived three centuries in a damp attic."
Strongest
likely
probably
plausibly
Strong
predictably
expectedly
certainly
surely
inevitably
Similar words to unlikely
Words similar to unlikely shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
improbably
improbable
unexpected
doubtful
implausibly
dubious
surprising
unexpectedly
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Unlikely. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/unlikely