improbability
Against the odds
Improbability is the quality of being unlikely to happen or be true.
It measures how far something deviates from reasonable expectation: The improbability of winning the lottery doesn't stop people from playing.
In fiction, improbability often signals plot convenience—coincidences that strain belief.
The plural improbabilities refers to multiple unlikely elements: The story stacked improbabilities until it collapsed under its own weight.
Not apt to happen
- implausibleUnlikely to be true
- far-fetchedUnconvincingly unlikely or strained
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
questionable · inconceivable · unbelievable · incredible · remote · unthinkable · unfeasible · unrealistic
Departure from the expected
- odditySomething unusual or unexpected
- peculiarityUnusual distinguishing characteristic
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
- quirkPeculiar behavioral trait
freak · outlier · curiosity · enigma · paradox · absurdity · bizarreness · outlandishness
Likelihood of occurrence
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- fortuityAccidental lucky occurrence
happenstance · accident · randomness · stochastic · aleatory · unpredictability · contingency · uncertainty
Not anticipated beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- astonishingCausing great wonder
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
shocking · astounding · jaw-dropping · flabbergasting · gobsmacking · unlooked-for · blindsiding · stupefying
Seldom occurring or found
- rareSeldom found or seen
- scarceIn short supply
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- seldomOn few occasions
exceptional · singular · unique · once-in-a-lifetime · unprecedented · extraordinary · remarkable · unheard-of
unlikely
Not apt to happen
- implausibleUnlikely to be true
- far-fetchedUnconvincingly unlikely or strained
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
dubious · questionable · inconceivable · unbelievable · incredible · remote · unthinkable · unfeasible · unrealistic · fanciful
anomaly
Departure from the expected
- odditySomething unusual or unexpected
- peculiarityUnusual distinguishing characteristic
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
quirk · freak · outlier · curiosity · enigma · paradox · absurdity · bizarreness · outlandishness · preposterousness
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- coincidenceUnplanned matching of events
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
fortuity · happenstance · accident · randomness · stochastic · aleatory · unpredictability · contingency · uncertainty · indeterminacy
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- astonishingCausing great wonder
startling · shocking · astounding · jaw-dropping · flabbergasting · gobsmacking · unlooked-for · blindsiding · stupefying · mind-boggling
uncommon
Seldom occurring or found
- rareSeldom found or seen
- scarceIn short supply
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
seldom · exceptional · singular · unique · once-in-a-lifetime · unprecedented · extraordinary · remarkable · unheard-of · unicorn
- possibilitiespossibility, chance, likelihood, odds, potential
- unbelievableunbelievable, incredible, inconceivable, implausible, unthinkable
- Douglas AdamsArthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Marvin, 42, forty-two
improbabilityprobability
Quantified chance of occurrence
likelihood · likeliness · certainty · inevitability · predictability
improbabilityplausibility
Seeming likely true
credibility · believability · verisimilitude · reasonableness · feasibility