unintentional

adjective

un·​in·​ten·​tion·​al ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce unintentional (audio)
Synonyms of unintentionalnext
: not done by intention or design : not intentional
an unintentional effect
causing unintentional harm/offense
unintentionally adverb
an unintentionally offensive remark

Synonyms of unintentional

Examples of unintentional in a Sentence

an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful
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.
Between 15,000 and 22,000 Americans died each year from unintentional injuries at work, home and in transportation, per NCHS. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 Yet alcohol contributes to millions of deaths globally each year and is linked to cancer, liver disease, unintentional accidents, violence and, importantly, dependence and addiction. Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 The report also listed the leading causes of death in 2025, with the top three being estimated as heart disease with 694,708 deaths, cancer with 622,832 deaths and unintentional injuries with 184,265 deaths. Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 2 July 2026 But somewhere in the process, a misread signal or an unintentional breach of a norm that no term sheet mentioned created a rupture that the financial structure could not repair. Amer Al Ahbabi, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unintentional

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unintentional was in 1782

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Cite this Entry

“Unintentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintentional. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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