slim likelihood

USAGE SUMMARY

"slim likelihood" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that the chance of something happening is not very good. For example, "Given the current circumstances, there is a slim likelihood that the project will be completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Despite the heady atmosphere on Friday, protesters and activists in Tahrir Square's choked approaches, bus shelters and plazas predicted an increasingly bitter standoff, given the slim likelihood that the president planned to accede to their demands.

The New York Times

Andrew J. Bacevich, professor of international relations at Boston University, said the alternatives would have at least as much chance of preventing attacks on the United States as a large-scale counterinsurgency effort, which he said would last 5 to 10 years, require hundreds of billions of dollars, sacrifice hundreds of American lives and have a "slim likelihood of success".

The New York Times

But, Bush added, it would be "better" for Obama's successor to make the nomination because of the slim likelihood that a divided Senate would confirm any nominee.

Huffington Post

In a 2008 report, the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute ("IBAHRI") claimed that the "slim likelihood" of a successful defence to defamation, combined with high damages awarded in cases involving PAP officials, "sheds doubt on the independence of the judiciary in these cases".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Likelihood: slim to none.

TechCrunch

He encourages patients to see if their primary care physician has the vaccine first but he also knows the shortage has made that likelihood slim.

Forbes

If she survived, the likelihood was slim that she would have any cognitive function.

The New York Times

Still, the odds of such an injury are quite slim, and with the likelihood of an N.B.A. season diminished following the players' recent legal maneuver, China becomes an increasingly more palatable option.

The New York Times

But the chance that Samsung will have to take those phones off store shelves soon is slim, because of the likelihood that such an action could be delayed, pending appeals by Samsung.

The New York Times - Tech

Mr. Leahy and the other board members, County Court Judge Lawrence King and Judge Lehr, said the process of considering each of the 10,750 uncounted ballots could take several days, and that Miami-Dade's lawyers had informed the board that the likelihood was slim that the Florida Supreme Court would extend the counting deadline.

The New York Times

Since both children live with disabilities, and twins cannot be adopted separately, the likelihood is slim that they will be brought into a loving home environment.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slim likelihood", ensure the context clearly supports the pessimistic outlook. It's effective when contrasting expectations with reality or emphasizing potential risks.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the "slim likelihood" to the point of impossibility unless that is truly the case. Be accurate in portraying the degree of unlikelihood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slim likelihood" functions as a qualifier, specifically an adjective modifying a noun. The adjective "slim" narrows down or limits the scope of the noun "likelihood", emphasizing its small degree. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes a situation where the possibility of something happening is improbable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slim likelihood" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a low probability of an event occurring. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media. While the phrase itself is direct, it's important to ensure the context supports the expression of skepticism. Alternatives like "minimal likelihood" or "slight likelihood" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal likelihood

Replaces "slim" with "minimal", suggesting an even smaller chance.

slight likelihood

Substitutes "slim" with "slight", indicating a small degree of probability.

low probability

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct term for a small chance.

remote possibility

Emphasizes the unlikelihood by using "remote" instead of "slim".

poor chance

Uses "poor" to describe the quality of the chance, implying a low likelihood.

small chance

Replaces the entire phrase with a more direct term for a small chance.

meager prospect

Changes "likelihood" to "prospect" and "slim" to "meager", highlighting the lack of promise.

doubtful prospect

Changes "likelihood" to "prospect" and replaces "slim" with "doubtful", emphasizing the uncertainty.

unlikely event

Shifts from likelihood to the event itself being unlikely.

improbable outcome

Focuses on the outcome and its low probability.

FAQs

How can I use "slim likelihood" in a sentence?

You can use "slim likelihood" to describe a situation where the chance of something happening is very low. For example, "Given the evidence, there's a slim likelihood of finding the missing treasure."

What's a good alternative to "slim likelihood"?

Alternatives to "slim likelihood" include "minimal likelihood", "slight likelihood", or "low probability".

Is "slim likelihood" formal or informal?

"Slim likelihood" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's often seen in news and analytical writing.

What does "slim likelihood" emphasize?

"Slim likelihood" emphasizes that the probability of an event occurring is very low, suggesting it's not worth relying on or expecting.