1
as in chance
happening by chance
finding the gold was all the more remarkable because its discovery was entirely accidental
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irrelevant
not being a vital part of or belonging to something
we're considering the painting's merit as a work of art, its commercial value being entirely accidental as far as we're concerned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of accidental
Sometimes the overlap between real life and game culture is accidental.
—
ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
It’s been more than a decade since a drug violation has been overturned on appeal, meaning that despite nearly every athlete’s statement that his violation was accidental and the drug entered his system unknowingly, genuine mistakes are rare.
—Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The coroner determined the cause of death was traumatic blunt force injuries and the manner was accidental.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Tomtoc’s version is under $20 and is made with durable, water-resistant materials that’ll shield your gear from accidental drops and spills.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accidental
ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
It’s been more than a decade since a drug violation has been overturned on appeal, meaning that despite nearly every athlete’s statement that his violation was accidental and the drug entered his system unknowingly, genuine mistakes are rare.
—Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The coroner determined the cause of death was traumatic blunt force injuries and the manner was accidental.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Tomtoc’s version is under $20 and is made with durable, water-resistant materials that’ll shield your gear from accidental drops and spills.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental
Adjective
-
On that timescale, human intervention is irrelevant.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The filing argued that Broadnax’s lyrics were irrelevant to his case since they weren’t used during the guilt-or-innocence phase of arguments.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Drivers can be fined nearly $5,000 for a single inadvertent drive-time violation, or more than $15,000 for intentional violations.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Auditors found this wasn’t inadvertent, but an intentional action to make the Transportation Trust Fund deficit appear smaller.—
Steve Arentz,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In 1992, after decades of external pressure and internal resistance, the country voted to end the system.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The increase in Oscar nominations for Latino talent stems not from organic industry change but from external pressure, particularly the #OscarsSoWhite movement that prompted the Academy to expand its voting body starting in 2016 by recruiting women and members of underrepresented communities.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
My in-destination partners are equipped to handle any unexpected challenges swiftly, maintaining the quality and enjoyment of your travel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
In that appearance, Richins said their father's passing was unexpected.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
5 July 2025
-
The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker.—
Mark Greif,
Harper's Magazine,
26 July 2024
Adjective
-
But, royal biographer Kitty Kelley reported, Diana’s decision to wear the choker as a headband was an unintentional one.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In New York City, more than 700 adults 55-84 died of unintentional drug poisonings involving opioids in 2024.—
Jennifer Bisram,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Happiness means pursuing intrinsic rather than extrinsic goals One of the biggest lies that Old Happy tells us, Harrison explains, is that the pursuit of extrinsic goals and external approval — popularity, conformity, financial success, aesthetic beauty — is the key to happiness.—
Nina Zipkin,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
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Psychologists distinguish between intrinsic motivation (behaviors driven by internal satisfaction and personal values) and extrinsic motivation (behaviors driven by external rewards, recognition or pressure).—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Because true as that was technically, that distinction was more fundamental than incidental in a league so defined by that very line — especially considering their once-exhilarating offense had turned stale over much of the season.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The eagle’s head facing the olive branch was not incidental.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidental. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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