Definition of casualnext
1
as in informal
not designed to be worn only on special occasions a restaurant where people in casual clothes are always welcome

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective casual differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of casual are accidental, contingent, and fortuitous. While all these words mean "not amenable to planning or prediction," casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

When might accidental be a better fit than casual?

The synonyms accidental and casual are sometimes interchangeable, but accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

In what contexts can contingent take the place of casual?

While in some cases nearly identical to casual, contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

When is it sensible to use fortuitous instead of casual?

Although the words fortuitous and casual have much in common, fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

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 casual This pair from Edikted combines those dressy pleats with a more casual fit, giving the jeans serious versatility. Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026 Straight lines and hard angles give a formal look, while curved lines offer a casual feeling. David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026 The Tapata Track Pants are a casual, cool selection with two stripes down the side of each leg and the perfect, relaxed fit. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026 Now there’s clear animosity between the teams, which is intriguing for the casual viewer but a blow to the curling community. Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for casual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for casual
Adjective
  • Anyone who survived the informal audition went on to meet judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Unlike the specialized literary magazine and its informal cousin, the literary blog, the general-interest newspaper has a kind of noble rapacity, an encyclopedic ambition to wrap its arms around the whole of the world.
    Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • These pressures are not accidental.
    Steve Hershey, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Why This Moment Matters The timing of this shift isn’t accidental.
    Kelly Ehlers, Rolling Stone, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Petite and low-slung, the armless silhouette and oversized pillow cushions feel nonchalant but not sloppy, and can easily bring some dynamic energy to more formal living room seating layouts.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Her nonchalant, soft-glam is so perfectly mesmerizing, my TikTok and social media feeds are flooded with tutorials trying to re-create her signature style.
    Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • During Galliano’s tenure, Maison Margiela shows were sporadic.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • However, sporadic light supplementation means that adjusting fertilizer use is sensible if plant growth slows.
    Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Across from shops fixing cars and selling coffee, a black-and-white brick building is where locals go for a place that’s classic and classy, though scrumptious bar bites and a half-price wine night are everyday draws.
    USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • While ChatGPT targeted everyday users, Anthropic has focused on selling chatbot services to business customers.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Scam centers proliferating as criminal gangs flout laws In Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, a failure to consistently enforce laws against human trafficking, labor abuses and criminal activities have allowed cyber-scam centers to flourish despite occasional crackdowns, the report noted.
    Elaine Kurtenbach, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
  • While occasional scooting can happen, recurring episodes usually signal an underlying issue with anal glands.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of analyzing every detail in a scene, the human brain quickly detects sudden motion or change and reacts first.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Demand for cross-border relocation, residency planning and citizenship consultancy services is being driven by geopolitical tensions and sudden policy shifts, advisers who work with ultra-high-net-worth clients told CNBC.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • How the Study Worked In the study, 72 inactive adults with panic disorder who weren’t taking medications as treatment completed a 12-week program of brief intermittent intense exercise or relaxation training.
    Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Due to its durability and rapid response time, the team expects the technology to be used to stabilize power grids and manage the intermittent output of renewable energy sources.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/casual. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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