Antonyms of adj likely

4 senses of likely

Sense 1
likely (vs. unlikely) -- (has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job")

unlikely (vs. likely) -- (has little chance of being the case or coming about; "an unlikely story"; "an unlikely candidate for reelection"; "a butcher is unlikely to preach vegetarianism")
        => farfetched, implausible -- (highly imaginative but unlikely; "a farfetched excuse"; "an implausible explanation")
        => last -- (most unlikely or unsuitable; "the last person we would have suspected"; "the last man they would have chosen for the job")
        => outside, remote -- (very unlikely; "an outside chance"; "a remote possibility"; "a remote contingency")

Sense 2
probable (vs. improbable), likely -- (likely but not certain to be or become true or real; "a likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss")


Sense 3
likely, potential -- (expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients")

INDIRECT (VIA prospective) -> retrospective -- (concerned with or related to the past; "retrospective self-justification")

Sense 4
likely -- (within the realm of credibility; "not a very likely excuse")

INDIRECT (VIA credible) -> incredible, unbelievable -- (beyond belief or understanding; "at incredible speed"; "the book's plot is simply incredible")

Similarity of adj likely

4 senses of likely

Sense 1
likely (vs. unlikely) -- (has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job")
       => apt (predicate), liable (predicate) -- (at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant; "he is apt to lose"; "she is liable to forget")
       => probable -- (apparently destined; "the probable consequences of going ahead with the scheme")
       => promising -- (showing possibility of achievement or excellence; "a promising young man")
          Also See-> possible#1

Sense 2
probable (vs. improbable), likely -- (likely but not certain to be or become true or real; "a likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss")
       => equiprobable -- (equally probable)
       => presumptive -- (having a reasonable basis for belief or acceptance; "the presumptive heir (or heir apparent)")
       => verisimilar -- (appearing to be true or real; "a verisimilar tale")

Sense 3
likely, potential -- (expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients")
       => prospective (vs. retrospective) -- (of or concerned with or related to the future; "prospective earnings"; "a prospective mother"; "a prospective bride"; "the statute is solely prospective in operation")

Sense 4
likely -- (within the realm of credibility; "not a very likely excuse")
       => credible (vs. incredible), believable -- (capable of being believed; "completely credible testimony"; "credible information")

Synonyms of adv likely

1 sense of likely

Sense 1
probably, likely, in all likelihood, in all probability, belike -- (with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war")