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unlikely winner

NOUN
dark horse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
also-ran long shot sleeper underdog
WEAK
hundred-to-one shot improbability little chance little opportunity outside chance outside shot poor bet poor lookout poor possibility poor prognosis poor prospect slim chance small chance stalking horse unexpected winner unknown unknown quantity unlikelihood upsetter

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Meta chief A.I. scientist Yann LeCun is already endorsing the case that his team’s open-source focus will make it an unlikely winner.

From Slate • Nov. 22, 2023

That is where Gantz could emerge as a power broker — and even an unlikely winner.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 26, 2022

The most unlikely winner of them all, Micheel had never won on tour in 163 starts.

From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2018

Bingham was an unlikely winner last year, having started the tournament as a 50-1 outsider, but this time he was on the receiving end of a surprise result.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2016

Five minutes later, Nikola Djurdic scored an unlikely winner for the visitors with a stooping header, from an offside position.

From The Guardian • Feb. 4, 2013