adj. 25B6; adjective
it seemed likely that a scandal would break : PROBABLE, (distinctly) possible, to be expected, odds-on, plausible, imaginable; expected, anticipated, predictable, predicted, foreseeable; informal on the cards.
a likely explanation : PLAUSIBLE, reasonable, feasible, acceptable, believable, credible, tenable, conceivable.
a likely story! : UNLIKELY, implausible, unbelievable, incredible, untenable, unacceptable, inconceivable.
a likely-looking place : SUITABLE, appropriate, apposite, fit, fitting, acceptable, right; promising, hopeful.
a likely lad : PROMISING, talented, gifted; informal up-and-coming.
improbable, unbelievable.
25B6; adverb he was most likely dead : PROBABLY, in all probability, presumably, no doubt, doubtlessly; informal (as) like as not.