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Unlikeliest: meaning, definitions and examples

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unlikeliest

 

[ ʌnˈlaɪkliest ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

degree of improbability

The term 'unlikeliest' refers to something that is least likely to happen or be true. It suggests a very low probability of occurrence or realization, often used to describe scenarios that are unexpected or improbable.

Synonyms

doubtful, improbable, unlikely

Examples of usage

  • She was the unlikeliest candidate for the award.
  • It was the unlikeliest of events that brought them together.
  • The unlikeliest hero rose to the occasion.
  • He made the unlikeliest of predictions about the outcome.

Translations

Translations of the word "unlikeliest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 menos provável

🇮🇳 असंभव

🇩🇪 unwahrscheinlich

🇮🇩 paling tidak mungkin

🇺🇦 найменш імовірний

🇵🇱 najmniej prawdopodobny

🇯🇵 最もありえない

🇫🇷 le moins probable

🇪🇸 el menos probable

🇹🇷 en az olası

🇰🇷 가장 가능성이 낮은

🇸🇦 الأقل احتمالا

🇨🇿 nejméně pravděpodobný

🇸🇰 najmenej pravdepodobný

🇨🇳 最不可能的

🇸🇮 najmanj verjeten

🇮🇸 minnst líklegt

🇰🇿 ең аз ықтимал

🇬🇪 მაინც ყველაზე ნაკლებად სავარაუდო

🇦🇿 ən az mümkün

🇲🇽 el menos probable

Word origin

The word 'unlikeliest' is derived from the base word 'likely', which originated from the Old English 'liclic', meaning 'like' or 'similar', combined with the prefix 'un-', indicating negation. The term evolved through Middle English as 'likly', eventually leading to the modern English form 'likely'. The transformation into 'unlikeliest' follows the comparative and superlative rules of English grammar, where the prefix negates the base adjective, indicating the lowest degree of likelihood. Over time, 'unlikeliest' has come to be used in various contexts to describe situations or outcomes that do not conform to expectations. As language evolves, the use of 'unlikeliest' has increased, especially in literature and common discourse, to convey irony or surprise in scenarios where the outcome defies common sense.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,424, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.