Find Synonyms
unlikely Synonyms
Another word for unlikely
Choosing another word for unlikely depends on context, so the 26 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• adjective (Context 1)
Not likely to happen, be done, or be true; improbable.
Usage Example
"Given the clear skies, rain seems highly improbable this afternoon."
Strongest
improbable
doubtful
Strong
dubious
questionable
implausible
far-fetched
unbelievable
inconceivable
Weak
uncertain
faint
• adjective (Context 2)
Unexpected or uncharacteristic in a particular role, situation, or combination; unpromising.
Usage Example
"The quiet librarian became an unexpected hero during the town's flood relief efforts."
Strongest
unexpected
improbable
Strong
surprising
uncharacteristic
untypical
atypical
unusual
unpromising
incongruous
Weak
unconventional
• adverb (Context 3)
In an improbable manner; with little likelihood.
Usage Example
"The fragile manuscript had improbably survived three centuries in a damp attic."
Strongest
improbably
implausibly
Strong
unexpectedly
surprisingly
incredibly
unbelievably
Weak
doubtfully
Opposites of unlikely
The opposite of unlikely shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
likely
probable
probably
expected
plausibly
plausible
natural
predictably
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Unlikely. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/unlikely