highly unlike

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly unlikely" can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is highly improbable or unlikely to happen. For example: "It is highly unlikely that Donald Trump will be re-elected in 2024."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In their leisure and their disturbed hedonism these women were highly unlike the wives and mothers of Ruby, and by the Seventies the tension between the two styles of life was intense.

The Guardian - Books

It is highly unlike that unrestricted gene flow across such a large geographic region is responsible for these patterns.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Antibiotics are highly selective — unlike soap and water, which get rid of bacteria indiscriminately, through mechanical means.

The New York Times

Floating there like some vision from an off-kilter, impressionist warning flag is a bunker, sharp-edged and highly visible — unlike some of the 967 other bunkers that actually are on the golf course.

The New York Times - Sports

It is meant to be highly directional, unlike rabbit ears, to ensure clean reception of digital signals even in urban areas.; COMMAND AND CONTROL -- Multiple TV's, computers, sound and home theater systems -- each with its own remote control -- are complicating leisure time.

The New York Times

However, those with industry experience perceived entrepreneurship and management skills as highly important, unlike the other group.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Will Brinton, the founder of Woods End Laboratories, a soil-testing firm in Mount Vernon, Maine, explains the science behind Buckel's resistance: "Juice pulp is highly degradable, unlike leaves and lawn clippings.

Huffington Post

In other words, vaccination is not always beneficial in reducing incidence and the design of an effective vaccination program in multi-group model is highly nontrivial, unlike in simple epidemic models where there is a simple formula for the critical vaccination coverage level necessary for eradication (pc) [ 20].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Using a threshold of just 1.2-fold change and p < 0.05, this strategy identified 122 sequences (corresponding to 85 genes) with putative 'cVg1-like' expression (a c Vg1-synexpression group) and 78 sequences (52 genes) expressed more highly in the 'Vg1-unlike' explants (cVg1 negative).

eLife

"It is unlike highly charged public meetings, where someone is proposing something and people are geared to react.

The New York Times

But unlike highly paid actors, the struggling middle-income families of today often cannot afford to choose forgoing work, regardless of the tax rates involved.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "highly unlike", ensure the contrast you're drawing is significant and not merely a slight difference. The phrase implies a substantial divergence between the subjects being compared.

Common error

Avoid using "highly unlike" when describing superficial differences. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the contrast is fundamental or striking, not for trivial distinctions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly unlike" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a significant degree of dissimilarity. Ludwig AI shows that it often precedes a noun phrase to emphasize the contrast, underscoring that the subjects are not just different, but markedly so.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly unlike" is used to describe a significant degree of dissimilarity between two things. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is relatively rare. It's mostly found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the contrast is substantial enough to warrant its intensity. Alternatives like "extremely dissimilar" or "markedly different" might be more common depending on the situation. Be mindful of overstating minor differences; reserve "highly unlike" for fundamental contrasts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely dissimilar

Emphasizes a very strong difference, indicating a significant lack of resemblance.

markedly different

Highlights a noticeable distinction, suggesting the difference is easily observed.

substantially different

Indicates a considerable difference in quantity, size, or degree.

significantly disparate

Implies a considerable gap or divergence, often used in formal contexts.

quite distinct

Suggests a clear and easily recognizable difference.

entirely unalike

Highlights a complete lack of similarity, emphasizing a total divergence.

noticeably contrasting

Focuses on the differences that stand out when comparing two things.

sharply divergent

Conveys a strong deviation or departure from a common point.

radically opposed

Implies a fundamental conflict or contradiction between two things.

poles apart

Idiomatic expression indicating extreme difference or opposition.

FAQs

How can I use "highly unlike" in a sentence?

Use "highly unlike" to emphasize a significant difference between two things. For example, "The modern design is "highly unlike" the traditional architecture of the past.".

What's a more common way to say "highly unlike"?

Alternatives include "extremely dissimilar", "markedly different", or "substantially different", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "highly unlike" and "very different"?

"Highly unlike" suggests a more profound level of dissimilarity than "very different". "Highly unlike" implies a fundamental divergence.

When is it appropriate to use "highly unlike" in writing?

It is appropriate when highlighting a significant and easily noticeable contrast. It's less suitable for minor or nuanced differences. Ensure that the dissimilarity is strong enough to warrant the intensity of the phrase.