improbable
adjective
im·prob·a·ble (ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-bəl 
-ˈpräb-bəl
: unlikely to be true or to occur
also : unlikely but real or true
improbability
(ˌ)im-ˌprä-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun improbably
(ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-blē
adverb -ˈpräb-blē
Synonyms
- doubtful
- dubious
- far-fetched
- flimsy
- questionable
- unapt
- unlikely
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The team made an improbable comeback. it seems improbable that the two writers never met since they traveled in the same social circles
Recent Examples on the Web Votto posted a pregame TikTok before returning to the starting lineup for the Reds' improbable ninth-inning comeback and 4-3 win Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. 
Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 13 July 2022 Antetokounmpo tried to lead the Bucks to a second straight improbable comeback. Steve Megargee, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2022 Seven different Mets batters provided a hit in the improbable comeback. Andrew Tredinnick, USA TODAY, 6 May 2022 Indiana trailed by as many as 28 points in the first quarter and 31 in the first half but mounted an improbable comeback to take the lead in the third quarter and hang with Denver down the stretch. James Boyd, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Mar. 2022 Eat at a great restaurant that’s made an improbable comeback. Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2022 On Friday night, during an improbable 21-point comeback, Rondo did that again -- a blast from the past, impacting the game in a way that goes beyond the behind-the-scenes stuff. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 12 Feb. 2022 After defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wildcard playoff round, the Bucs came up just short of a seemingly improbable comeback against the Rams in the Divisional round. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2022 The buzz escalated following the Buccaneers’ loss to the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs, where Brady nearly pulled off another improbable comeback. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2022 See More
Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 13 July 2022 Antetokounmpo tried to lead the Bucks to a second straight improbable comeback. Steve Megargee, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2022 Seven different Mets batters provided a hit in the improbable comeback. Andrew Tredinnick, USA TODAY, 6 May 2022 Indiana trailed by as many as 28 points in the first quarter and 31 in the first half but mounted an improbable comeback to take the lead in the third quarter and hang with Denver down the stretch. James Boyd, The Indianapolis Star, 31 Mar. 2022 Eat at a great restaurant that’s made an improbable comeback. Laura Blasey, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2022 On Friday night, during an improbable 21-point comeback, Rondo did that again -- a blast from the past, impacting the game in a way that goes beyond the behind-the-scenes stuff. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 12 Feb. 2022 After defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wildcard playoff round, the Bucs came up just short of a seemingly improbable comeback against the Rams in the Divisional round. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2022 The buzz escalated following the Buccaneers’ loss to the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs, where Brady nearly pulled off another improbable comeback. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin improbabilis, from in- + probabilis probable
First Known Use
1598, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
improbable
adjective
im·prob·a·ble im-ˈprä-bə-bəl
: not likely : not probable
improbable stories
improbability
noun
as in unlikelihood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unlikelihood
- unlikeliness
- implausibility
- impracticability
- dubiousness
- impracticality
- incredibility
- doubtfulness
- incredibleness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- probability
- likelihood
- plausibility
- liability
- possibility
- credibility
- feasibility
- viability
- reasonableness
- potentiality
- plausibleness
- reasonability
- feasibleness