unlikely scenario

USAGE SUMMARY

'unlikely scenario' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that is not probable or likely to happen. For example, "She had no wish to ever marry, so I thought it was an unlikely scenario that she would ever say yes to the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An unlikely scenario.

Independent

An admittedly unlikely scenario.

Independent

It is an unlikely scenario.

The Guardian - Sport

This seems an unlikely scenario.

The Washington Post

Perhaps this is an unlikely scenario.

The New Yorker

This is not an unlikely scenario.

The Washington Post

But that is an unlikely scenario.

The Guardian

But our technical incompetence makes this an unlikely scenario.

The Guardian - Opinion

"An unlikely scenario, even if the medals were distributed randomly".

The New Yorker

Maine is worth watching only in case of a very unlikely scenario.

The New Yorker

It's an unlikely scenario, so the Mets better start praying -- and playing!

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unlikely scenario", provide context to explain why the scenario is improbable to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid presenting an "unlikely scenario" as completely impossible. While improbable, the term suggests a possibility, however small. If something is truly impossible, use stronger terms like "impossible" or "inconceivable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unlikely scenario" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. It introduces a hypothetical situation characterized by a low probability of occurrence, prompting consideration despite its improbability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

15%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unlikely scenario" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a situation that is improbable but not impossible. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, showing its widespread use across diverse contexts like news, science, and academia. While it's important to use this phrase accurately, avoiding its misinterpretation as an impossible event, it serves to introduce hypothetical situations for risk assessment or strategic planning. Alternatives like "improbable situation" or "remote possibility" can provide similar nuances depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improbable situation

Replaces "scenario" with "situation", keeping the focus on a set of circumstances but emphasizing the low probability.

implausible event

Substitutes "scenario" with "event" and "unlikely" with "implausible", highlighting the incredibility of the occurrence.

remote possibility

Replaces "unlikely scenario" with "remote possibility", shifting the emphasis to the small chance of something happening.

doubtful prospect

This alternative uses "doubtful prospect", indicating a low expectation of a positive outcome.

slim chance

Emphasizes the minimal probability of the scenario occurring.

far-fetched idea

Highlights the implausibility and lack of realism in the imagined situation.

imaginable but improbable

This phrase stresses that while the scenario is conceivable, it is not likely to happen.

rare occurrence

Focuses on the infrequency of the scenario, suggesting it is not a common event.

exceptional circumstance

Highlights the unusual and atypical nature of the scenario.

unforeseen contingency

Suggests the scenario is an unexpected and unplanned event.

FAQs

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

You can use "unlikely scenario" to introduce a situation that is not expected to happen, such as: "It's an "unlikely scenario", but we should still prepare for it."

What phrases can I use instead of "unlikely scenario"?

You can use alternatives such as "improbable situation", "remote possibility", or "slim chance" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "highly unlikely scenario"?

Yes, "highly unlikely scenario" is grammatically correct and emphasizes the low probability of the situation even more than simply saying "unlikely scenario".

What's the difference between "unlikely scenario" and "worst-case scenario"?

"Unlikely scenario" simply refers to something improbable, whereas "worst-case scenario" refers to the most negative possible outcome, regardless of its likelihood.