as in coincidence
formal + literary
something that happens by chance
Our meeting was pure happenstance. We met each other by happenstance.
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Recent Examples of happenstance
Maury became a travel specialist by happenstance while living overseas (she’s called Hong Kong, South Africa, France, Australia, and Vietnam home at different points in her life).
—
The Editors, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2026
What followed, however, has been anything but happenstance.
—Susan Caminiti, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
The fact that the trades came so close to Trump’s announcement may have been mere happenstance, Khouw pointed out.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Time will tell if the mid-major is really extinct or if these last two years were a random happenstance in a college landscape that continues to radically shift.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for happenstance
The Editors, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2026
What followed, however, has been anything but happenstance.
—Susan Caminiti, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026
The fact that the trades came so close to Trump’s announcement may have been mere happenstance, Khouw pointed out.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Time will tell if the mid-major is really extinct or if these last two years were a random happenstance in a college landscape that continues to radically shift.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for happenstance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happenstance
Noun
-
The choice of destination for Kate’s first trip abroad since her 2024 cancer diagnosis is no coincidence as early years development is the signature cause of the mother of three who will one day be queen.—
Silvia Stellacci,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
The choice of destination for her first trip abroad since her 2024 cancer diagnosis is no coincidence, as early years development is the signature cause for Kate, the mother of three who will one day be queen.—
Jean-Nicholas Fievet,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The argument for keeping an underperforming manager tends to centre on whether there were enough mitigating circumstances behind a bad season, and whether the club can use their summer to make the correct changes in player recruitment and wider infrastructure to fix things.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Each time, the circumstances of the test change.—
Deborah Treisman,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Happenstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happenstance. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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