likeliest
Highest odds candidate
Likeliest is the superlative of likely—the most probable among options.
She's the likeliest candidate for the job.
Of all the explanations, that's the likeliest.
The form competes with "most likely," which dominates in everyday speech, making likeliest sound slightly formal or literary.
Leading candidate or competitor
- favoriteMost liked option
- contenderOne competing seriously
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- nomineeOne proposed for position
suspect · culprit · successor · winner · choice · pick · selection · presumptive
Likely to occur
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- chancesProbabilities of occurrence
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
expectation · prospect · possibility · prediction · forecast · projection · prognosis · estimation
Prediction of future conditions
- projectedCast outward or forecast
- anticipatedExpected in advance
- expectedRegarded as likely
- predictedDeclared in advance
estimated · presumed · assumed · supposed · hypothesized · conjectured · reckoned · figured
frontrunner
Leading candidate or competitor
nominee · suspect · culprit · successor · winner · choice · pick · selection · presumptive · heir-apparent
probable
Likely to occur
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- chancesProbabilities of occurrence
probability · expectation · prospect · possibility · prediction · forecast · projection · prognosis · estimation · calculation
forecast
Prediction of future conditions
- projectedCast outward or forecast
- anticipatedExpected in advance
- expectedRegarded as likely
predicted · estimated · presumed · assumed · supposed · hypothesized · conjectured · reckoned · figured · calculated
apt
Naturally suited or inclined
- appropriateSuited to circumstance
- fittingSuitable or proper
- suitableProper for purpose
proper · ideal · befitting · optimal · congenial · seemly · meet · right · tailored · apposite