improbably

Examples

• All

• The plane that taxis up to the chain-link fence in front of the terminal is small and improbably sleek.

  Fiction book (1995)

• Yet the numbers from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics themselves seem improbably high.

  Academic text (2009)

• Make a list of the most improbably interesting jobs you have.

  Blog text (19)

• Often, they feature romance between improbably fit men and women.

  Academic text (2004)

• By the end of the day, most of his army had been lost, but improbably, Antony was still alive.

• And, improbably, as he blacked out on the living room floor, he felt a presence, a hand.

  Fiction book (1996)

• Austin holds the note an improbably long time, arms outstretched.

  Fiction book (1999)

• His house is improbably perched above a precipice.

  Best of Enemies (2015)

• Certainly, the fair-weather projection of Europe's future is improbably smooth in light of the revolutions of 1989 and 1990.

  Academic text (1991)

• At the charity event, Nate Smith scored an improbably long shot from 89 feet that earned him $50,000.

Synonyms

I

incredibly

vsimprobably

172 2.8

In a way that is very surprising and hard to believe

focuses on low chance rather than strong emotional emphasis

U

unbelievably

vsimprobably

107 3.7

In a way that is very surprising or seems impossible

conveys low probability rather than mere emotional surprise

I

impossibly

vsimprobably

31 5.7

To a very great degree that seems like it cannot be true

speaks of low likelihood rather than claiming it cannot happen

A

absurdly

vsimprobably

23 5.0

In a way that does not make sense or is much too extreme

focuses on low chance and disbelief rather than illogical excess

I

inconceivably

vsimprobably

2 7.7

In a way that is very hard to imagine

expresses unlikely occurrence rather than being beyond what one can picture

I

implausibly

vsimprobably

1 7.5

In a way that is hard to believe

is about being unlikely to happen instead of seeming unreasonable

Antonyms

L

likely

∞ 1.0

People expect it to happen or be true

How Likely

certainly

∞ 1.0

probably

∞ 1.0

possibly

∞ 1.0

improbably

6 6.4

rarely

539 1.0

never

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology