ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spontaneous
not made or done willingly or by choice
an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unintentional
While wildfires are a natural phenomenon, human actions — both intentional and unintentional — have amplified their devastation.
—
Natasha Navarra, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
The top three unintentional causes of death were vehicle crashes, drownings and falls, the park service said.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
And in many colder places, hypothermia is the second most common cause of unintentional death, after vehicle accidents.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 29 Jan. 2025
There was tremendous, albeit unintentional, cultural clarity in two late-term actions Joe Biden took before the end of his presidency.
—Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unintentional 
Natasha Navarra, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
The top three unintentional causes of death were vehicle crashes, drownings and falls, the park service said.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
And in many colder places, hypothermia is the second most common cause of unintentional death, after vehicle accidents.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 29 Jan. 2025
There was tremendous, albeit unintentional, cultural clarity in two late-term actions Joe Biden took before the end of his presidency.
—Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unintentional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentional
Adjective
-
As the largest startup offering cyber insurance and proactive monitoring tools with over 90,000 policyholders, Coalition insures against incidents like cyberattacks, email scams and accidental privacy violations.—
Jeff Kauflin,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The death of a man whose body was found in a burning car in Cromwell was ruled accidental, according to the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s certainly a spirit of lively, spontaneous community in the film’s ensemble of screen newcomers, all cast from the region and fluent in its distinctive Henan dialect, who collectively contribute a vital air of careworn, lived-in human texture to proceedings.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
-
White’s style is certainly very different to what Isaacs experienced on 2017 black comedy The Death of Stalin, which despite its irreverent, spontaneous tone, was in fact meticulously overseen by writer and director Armando Iannucci, the Emmy-winning creator of Veep.—
Charlie Campbell / Koh Samui,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Depth and art are not a license to impose behavior on those who are young, confused, vulnerable, trusting yet unwilling.—
Mikal Gilmore,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2025
-
The characters are not wholly irredeemable, and some do arrive through meditation and self-reflection at meaningful answers about their compulsions, even as others remain unwilling to consider such questions about their motivations (and how their actions affect other people).—
Hannah Giorgis,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The executive order equates these cartels with organizations like the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda, broadening legal tools for the U.S. to combat cartel operations but raising fears of unintended consequences.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
-
And, sometimes, production choices can have unintended consequences.—
Kayti Burt,
TIME,
12 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unintentional
Cite this Entry
“Unintentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentional. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share