improbable

American  

[im-prob-uh-buhl] / ɪmˈprɒb ə bəl /

adjective

1. not probable; unlikely to be true or to happen.

   Rain is improbable tonight.

   Synonyms:

   implausible, doubtful, questionable

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improbable British  

/ ɪmˈprɒbəbəl /

adjective

1. not likely or probable; doubtful; unlikely

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Other Word Forms

• improbability noun
• improbableness noun
• improbably adverb
• superimprobable adjective
• superimprobableness noun
• superimprobably adverb

Etymology

Origin of improbable

From the Latin word improbābilis, dating back to 1590–1600. See im- ², probable

Example Sentences

He keeps hens in his hostel room and dreams up improbable schemes to transform India - including planting trees along railway tracks, fertilised by waste from passing trains.

From BBC

"I love adventure, the unknown, facing improbable situations and seeing how we overcome them -- whether as a team or alone," she said.

From Barron's

Lindsey Vonn needed surgery on her broken leg after she crashed out of the Winter Olympics downhill on Sunday to brutally end the American skiing great's improbable dream of a medal.

From Barron's

A willingness to fund big, improbable bets is a glory of American capitalism.

From The Wall Street Journal

The heart of the movie is a wacky and improbable scheme by Maria Ángeles to hit the reset button and get her life back.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fanciful
• implausible
• rare
• unbelievable
• unlikely