improbable


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im·prob·a·ble

 (ĭm-prŏb′ə-bəl)
adj.
Unlikely to take place or be true.

im·prob′a·ble·ness n.
im·prob′a·bly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

improbable

(ɪmˈprɒbəbəl)
adj
not likely or probable; doubtful; unlikely
imˌprobaˈbility, imˈprobableness n
imˈprobably adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

im•prob•a•ble

(ɪmˈprɒb ə bəl)

adj.
not probable; unlikely to be true or to happen.
[1590–1600; < Latin]
im•prob`a•bil′i•ty, n.
im•prob′a•ble•ness, n.
im•prob′a•bly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.improbable - not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurredimprobable - not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred; "legislation on the question is highly unlikely"; "an improbable event"
probable, likely - likely but not certain to be or become true or real; "a likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss"
2.improbable - having a probability too low to inspire belief
implausible - having a quality that provokes disbelief; "gave the teacher an implausible excuse"
3.improbable - too improbable to admit of beliefimprobable - too improbable to admit of belief; "a tall story"
incredible, unbelievable - beyond belief or understanding; "at incredible speed"; "the book's plot is simply incredible"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

improbable

adjective
1. doubtful, unlikely, uncertain, unbelievable, dubious, questionable, fanciful, far-fetched, implausible It seems improbable that this year's figure will show a drop.
doubtful likely, certain, probable, reasonable, doubtless, plausible
2. unconvincing, weak, unbelievable, preposterous Their marriage seems an improbable alliance.
unconvincing convincing, plausible
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

improbable

adjective
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
غَيْر مُحْتَمَليَصْعُب تَصْديقُه
nepravděpodobný
usandsynligutænkelig
ólíklegurósennilegur
neįtikimaineįtikimumasnepanašumas į tiesą
maz ticamsneiespējamsneticams
neverjeten
inanılması güçmümkün görülmeyenolası olmayanolmayacak

improbable

[ɪmˈprɒbəbl] ADJ [event] → improbable; [excuse, story] → inverosímil
it is improbable that it will happenes improbable or poco probable que ocurra
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

improbable

[ɪmˈprɒbəbəl] adj
improbable
it is improbable that ... → il est improbable que ... + subj
It is improbable that the Prime Minister will be forced to resign → Il est improbable que le Premier ministre soit forcé à démissionner.
[excuse, explanation, story] → peu plausible
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

improbable

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

improbable

[ɪmˈprɒbəbl] adj (event) → improbabile, poco probabile; (excuse, story) → inverosimile
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

improbable

(imˈprobəbl) adjective
1. not likely to happen or exist; not probable. Although death at his age was improbable, he had already made his will.
2. hard to believe. an improbable explanation.
imˈprobably adverb
imˌprobaˈbility noun
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

improbable

a. improbable.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
'It seems improbable because it is improbable,' his friend returned.
The Gentleman replied: "It is improbable that its authors have accurately expressed my views without consulting me; and if I indorsed their work without approving it I should be a liar."
There is sometimes an odd disposition in this country to dispute as improbable in fiction, what are the commonest experiences in fact.
It is improbable in the highest degree that broad, lofty, isolated, steep-sided banks of sediment, arranged in groups and lines hundreds of leagues in length, could have been deposited in the central and profoundest parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, at an immense distance from any continent, and where the water is perfectly limpid.
In the last place, the actions should be such as may not only be within the compass of human agency, and which human agents may probably be supposed to do; but they should be likely for the very actors and characters themselves to have performed; for what may be only wonderful and surprizing in one man, may become improbable, or indeed impossible, when related of another.
I admit the force of the objection; but I can tell you, at the same time, that these said contingencies are by no means so improbable as they may look on the face of them.
At that time it was quite clear in my own mind that the Thing had come from the planet Mars, but I judged it improbable that it contained any living creature.
Accordingly, the poet should prefer probable impossibilities to improbable possibilities.
The plot of Rose to rob and abandon his countrymen when in the heart of the wilderness, and to throw himself into the hands of savages, may appear strange and improbable to those unacquainted with the singular and anomalous characters that are to be found about the borders.
What Colonel MacAndrew had told me seemed very improbable, and I suspected that Mrs.
It is therefore improbable that there should exist a disposition in the federal councils to usurp the powers with which they are connected; because the attempt to exercise those powers would be as troublesome as it would be nugatory; and the possession of them, for that reason, would contribute nothing to the dignity, to the importance, or to the splendor of the national government.
The history of the states of Greece, and of other countries, abounds with such instances, and it is not improbable that what has so often happened would, under similar circumstances, happen again.