Unlikely vs Slight - What's the difference?
unlikely | slight |
Not likely; improbable; not to be reasonably expected.
* 1895 , H. G. Wells, The Time Machine Chapter X
Not holding out a prospect of success; likely to fail; unpromising.
Something or somebody considered unlikely.
* 1980 , Robert K. Lindsay, Applications of artificial intelligence for organic chemistry
* 1996 , Laurie R. King, To Play the Fool
* 2001 , Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marci Shimoff, Chicken soup for the mother's soul 2 (page 166)
Small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.
* (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
* (John Locke) (1632-1705)
* {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
, chapter=2 Not stout or heavy; slender.
* Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
(obsolete) Foolish; silly; weak in intellect.
To treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.
* Cowper
To treat with disdain or neglect.
To act negligently or carelessly.
(military, of a fortification) To render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.
To make even or level.
To throw heedlessly.
* Shakespeare
The act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.
* (Benjamin Franklin)
Sleight.
As adjectives the difference between unlikely and slight
is that unlikely is not likely; improbable; not to be reasonably expected while slight is small, weak or gentle; not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe.As nouns the difference between unlikely and slight
is that unlikely is something or somebody considered unlikely while slight is the act of slighting; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.As an adverb unlikely
is in an improbable manner.As a verb slight is
to treat as slight or not worthy of attention, to make light of.unlikely
English
Adjective
(en-adj)- It's very unlikely that you'll be able to walk perfectly after being in a cast for six months.
- Now, I still think that for this box of matches to have escaped the wear of time for immemorial years was a strange, and for me, a most fortunate thing. Yet oddly enough I found here a far more unlikely substance, and that was camphor.
- unlikely means
Noun
(unlikelies)- The molecular ion candidates are divided by the testing phase into three categories: rejects, unlikelies , and probables. Differences between each candidate and the prominent peaks in the spectrum are computed.
- "Here is my every possible phone number, plus a few unlikelies . And I've also put down the numbers of Karin and Wade, in case you've lost them. Karin can come anytime; Wade, up until six in the morning."
- Then the most unlikely of unlikelies happened. We got another phone call. Another woman wanted to give us a baby—a boy, born just that morning. We walked into a hospital, and he was placed into my arms.
References
*slight
English
Adjective
(er)- Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.
- Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.
citation, passage=Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,
- his own figure, which was formerly so slight
- (Hudibras)
Synonyms
* See alsoDerived terms
* slightish * slightly * slightnessVerb
(en verb)- the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies
- (Clarendon)
- (Hexham)
- The rogue slighted me into the river.
Synonyms
* See alsoDerived terms
* slightinglyNoun
(wikipedia slight) (en noun)- Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.
- (Spenser)