exceedingly unlikely that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exceedingly unlikely that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong belief that something is very improbable or not expected to happen. Example: "Given the current circumstances, it is exceedingly unlikely that we will meet our deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

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

The Washington Post

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

The New York Times

Nevertheless, it is possible (though exceedingly unlikely) that a fair coin tossed 1,000 times will land heads each time.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Partly for the same reason, it is exceedingly unlikely that they used a cyberattack to bring down the aircraft".

The New York Times

But when private security contractors do the same, it is exceedingly unlikely that they will be called to account.

The New York Times

Dr. Woodcock wrote that a thorough agency review had found it "exceedingly unlikely" that patients faced an unreasonable risk from the interaction between Seroquel and methadone.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

It concluded that the dodgy-beer allegation was exceedingly unlikely, and that the most feasible explanation for the positive test was simply that a vial of steroids had been wrongly labelled, leading to Johnson injecting stanozolol, which took 28 days to clear the system, instead of his steroid of choice, furazabol, which took only 14.

The Guardian - Sport

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

The New York Times

The Republican Party platform this year actually includes a plank calling for a federal value-added tax, on the (exceedingly unlikely) condition that Congress first repeals the 16th amendment to the constitution, which authorises the direct income tax.You can see this effect in Mr Romney's tax proposals, as well.

The Economist

This was rarely the case for the WDP1 waters, even if we make the exceedingly unlikely assumption that 100% of the measured DOC was present as acetate.

Geochemical Transactions

It's within the realm of possibility -- although exceedingly unlikely -- that the estranged members of Talking Heads might one day bury the hatchet to reunite and play L.A.'s Troubadour club with the also-defunct LCD Soundsystem and other dance-oriented acts, as in the pictured poster that's part of MOCA's array.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to emphasize that something is not expected to happen, but still technically possible. Ensure your tone remains objective and reasoned.

Common error

Avoid using "exceedingly unlikely that" when something is genuinely impossible. This phrase suggests a very low probability, not a zero probability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceedingly unlikely that" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying an entire clause. It expresses a strong degree of improbability or low probability. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exceedingly unlikely that" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a strong sense of improbability. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and common usage across various contexts, especially in news and media, science, and encyclopedias. While effective in formal settings, it's crucial to avoid overstating impossibilities and consider more informal alternatives for casual conversations. The phrase demonstrates consistent application and aligns with authoritative sources, providing a reliable means of conveying low expectations. Although 'highly unlikely' or 'very improbable' may serve as simpler substitutes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly improbable that

Replaces "unlikely" with "improbable" and "exceedingly" with "highly", maintaining a formal tone and strong improbability.

very improbable that

Similar to "highly improbable that" but uses "very" for emphasis, slightly reducing formality.

highly doubtful that

Substitutes "unlikely" with "doubtful", focusing on uncertainty rather than improbability.

extremely doubtful that

Uses "extremely" to intensify the doubt, similar in force to "exceedingly unlikely".

quite improbable that

Emphasizes improbability with "quite", offering a slightly more understated tone.

scarcely possible that

Indicates that something is barely within the realm of possibility.

hardly likely that

Replaces "exceedingly" with "hardly", suggesting a minimal chance of occurrence.

remote possibility that

Focuses on the distance or remove of the possibility.

negligible chance that

Highlights how small the probability of happening is.

outside chance that

Indicates that there is only a slight possibility or hope of something happening.

FAQs

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

Use "exceedingly unlikely that" to express a strong belief that something is very improbable. For example, "It is "exceedingly unlikely that" the project will be completed on time given the current delays."

What are some alternatives to "exceedingly unlikely that"?

You can use alternatives like "highly improbable that", "very doubtful that", or "remote possibility that" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is more emphatic: "highly unlikely that" or "exceedingly unlikely that"?

"Exceedingly unlikely that" is more emphatic than "highly unlikely that". "Exceedingly" intensifies the sense of improbability, making it a stronger statement.

Is "exceedingly unlikely that" appropriate for informal conversations?

While grammatically correct, ""exceedingly unlikely that"" is generally better suited for formal writing or discussions. In informal contexts, phrases like "very unlikely" or "not likely at all" might be more appropriate.