tõenäolisem

Tõenäolisem is the comparative form of the Estonian adjective tõenäoline, meaning more likely or more probable. It is used to express that one option, explanation, or outcome has a higher likelihood than another.

In grammar, tõenäolisem functions like a regular Estonian adjective and agrees with the noun in number and case. The corresponding superlative is formed with the word kõige: kõige tõenäolisem = the most probable. In everyday speech, tõenäolisem is commonly found in comparisons such as “see on tõenäolisem variant” or “see on tõenäolisem kui teised.”

Tõenäolisem is often contrasted with tõenäoline (the base form meaning probable) and with the adverbial form tõenäoliselt, which means probably. While tõenäolisem describes the relative likelihood of things, tõenäoliselt is used to state probability about actions or events rather than to compare noun phrases.

Common contexts include risk assessment, forecasting, and argumentative writing, where speakers compare different hypotheses, outcomes, or plans. For example, “Ettevõtte prognoos on tõenäolisem kui konkurentide oma” or “Kõige tõenäolisem seletus viitab X.” The term thus helps convey degrees of probability in concise, precise language.