unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd How to pronounce unintended (audio)
Synonyms of unintendednext
: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended
an unintended consequence/effect
an unintended pregnancy

Examples of unintended in a Sentence

backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the shooting is believed to be gang-related and the baby was an unintended target. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026 As recently as 2022, research group IDinsight found unintended pregnancy was, after a lack of money for school fees, the leading cause of girls not returning to education. ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 The shooting was believed to be gang-related, and the child was an unintended victim, according to police. Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026 His family called it an unintended tragedy. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unintended

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unintended was in 1649

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintended. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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