exceedingly unlikely

USAGE SUMMARY

"exceedingly unlikely" is correct and is usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is extremely unlikely to happen, such as "It is exceedingly unlikely that the Cubs will win the World Series this year".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Conceivable and exceedingly unlikely.

The Economist

This seems exceedingly unlikely.

The Economist

It's "exceedingly unlikely".

The Guardian

Exceedingly unlikely in my view.

The New York Times - Magazine

Emissions are exceedingly unlikely to peak earlier.

Nature

A collapse may be exceedingly unlikely.

The New York Times

But that is exceedingly unlikely, even by lottery standards.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even then, though, Shugerman called Kavanaugh's removal "exceedingly unlikely," given the supermajority threshold in the Senate.

The Washington Post

But it's exceedingly unlikely that a wall will keep the drugs out.

The Washington Post

Only a constitutional amendment, which is exceedingly unlikely, could undo that core holding.

The New York Times

I reassured her that it was exceedingly unlikely that she had cancer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exceedingly unlikely" to convey a strong sense of improbability, but remember that it doesn't mean impossible. Reserve it for situations where the chance of something happening is exceptionally low.

Common error

Avoid using "exceedingly unlikely" when you mean completely impossible. While strong, it still leaves a sliver of possibility. For true impossibility, consider phrases like "completely impossible" or "out of the question".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceedingly unlikely" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, expressing a very low probability or chance of something occurring. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatical and usable. It's used to qualify a statement by indicating a significant degree of doubt or improbability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exceedingly unlikely" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to express a strong sense of improbability. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, and is suitable for formal and neutral discourse. While it's not a direct synonym for "impossible", it conveys a very low probability and is useful for expressing doubt or skepticism. To add variety to your writing, consider using alternatives such as "highly improbable" or "remote possibility". Remember, while the odds might be stacked against something, "exceedingly unlikely" leaves room for the unexpected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly improbable

Replaces "unlikely" with "improbable" and "exceedingly" with "highly", maintaining a similar level of formality.

next to impossible

Emphasizes the extreme difficulty and unlikelihood of an event.

very doubtful

Substitutes "unlikely" with "doubtful" and "exceedingly" with "very", offering a slightly less formal tone.

slim chance

Uses a more idiomatic expression indicating a small possibility.

remote possibility

Replaces "unlikely" with "possibility" and "exceedingly" with "remote", suggesting a distant chance.

hardly any prospect

Indicates a lack of positive outlook or expectation.

scarcely imaginable

Highlights the difficulty in conceiving or believing something.

vanishingly small

Emphasizes that a quantity is extremely small. Used for probabilities and proportions, implies it approaches zero.

against all odds

Expresses that the possibility exists, but the negative forces acting against it are overwhelming.

don't hold your breath

A more informal, sarcastic way of saying something is unlikely to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "exceedingly unlikely" in a sentence?

Use "exceedingly unlikely" to express that something is very improbable. For example, "It is exceedingly unlikely that the company will meet its projected earnings this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "exceedingly unlikely"?

You can use alternatives like "highly improbable", "very doubtful", or "remote possibility" depending on the specific context.

Is "exceedingly unlikely" the same as "impossible"?

No, "exceedingly unlikely" indicates a very low probability, but not a zero probability. "Impossible" means that something cannot occur under any circumstances. While "next to impossible" it's a close synonym, "exceedingly unlikely" leaves a bit of room.

Which is more formal, "exceedingly unlikely" or "highly unlikely"?

"Exceedingly unlikely" is slightly more formal and emphatic than "highly unlikely". Both are appropriate for formal writing, but "exceedingly" adds extra strength to the improbability.