as in accidental
happening by chance
an inadvertent encounter with a rattlesnake in the brush
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Recent Examples of inadvertent
Many states that accept late-arriving absentee ballots implemented their policies during the COVID-19 pandemic when vote by mail surged in popularity and Postal Service delays raised concerns about inadvertent disenfranchisement.
—
Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Their perspectives should be central to the story, and Theroux’s even inadvertent sidelining of their experiences underscore a deeper issue facing the accurate portrayal of sexism and gender dynamics in documentaries.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for inadvertent
Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Their perspectives should be central to the story, and Theroux’s even inadvertent sidelining of their experiences underscore a deeper issue facing the accurate portrayal of sexism and gender dynamics in documentaries.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for inadvertent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadvertent
accidental
Adjective
-
Acrasia wears a face crafted by history and time, but Phalene wears a face crafted by Acrasia, who is a significantly less accidental artist than history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Warranties typically exclude routine maintenance, wear and tear, and accidental damage.—
Charlotte Maracina,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inadvertent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadvertent. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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