1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an incidental meeting of two ships in the middle of the Atlantic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
lacking importance
we still have to work out a few incidental details, but the proposal is largely complete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nonessential
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 incidental
Jesse Rhoades, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
That cinematic touch isn’t incidental: FUS is clearly aiming at an sonic version of an IMAX blockbuster.
—Michaelangelo Matos, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2025
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
These can last from three to eight weeks; Most major airlines will pay you a basic stipend during training (with the exception of American Airlines), but be sure to have some savings in the bank to cover incidentals.
—Niccolo Serratt, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Adjective
During these long missions, astronauts could get injured, causing what can be considered incidental disability.
—Jesse Rhoades, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
That cinematic touch isn’t incidental: FUS is clearly aiming at an sonic version of an IMAX blockbuster.
—Michaelangelo Matos, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
Concert-goers spent an average $1,300 per show on incidentals—transportation, accommodation, dining, shopping—over and above the cost of tickets, according to research from Skift.
—Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
These can last from three to eight weeks; Most major airlines will pay you a basic stipend during training (with the exception of American Airlines), but be sure to have some savings in the bank to cover incidentals.
—Niccolo Serratt, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incidental
Adjective
-
What followed was part social experiment, part accidental soul-baring, and slightly more fun than doomscrolling solo.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Similarly, an accidental executor can be the trustee of a revocable trust after the grantor has passed away.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D.,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As mentioned above, taking creatine in higher doses, such as 20 grams per day, may trigger minor side effects like water retention.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Commonly known as Tylenol, it's thought to reduce fever and relieve minor aches and pains by raising your body's pain threshold and regulating your body temperature.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In 2022, a consortium of private retirement-plan providers announced a collaboration to boost the portability of small retirement accounts.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
-
The sheriff’s office handles homicide investigations for several smaller municipalities within the county.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
If using a filler, find gluten-free bread crumbs that don't have other common allergens.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Then there are other injectables such as filler, which Wollman does twice a year in her lips.—
Lindy Segal,
Glamour,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Obstetricians say, at the end of the day, AFE is really just a product of bad luck, and there's little that can be done to prevent it.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
That the probe fizzled out came as little surprise.—
Jeremy Kohler,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This high-end brand is a subsidiary of GE that gets its claim to fame for merging modern design with high-quality performance.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The Italian footwear and sportswear brand Diadora, founded in 1948, is a subsidiary of Geox.—
Simon Mainwaring,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Not when your opponent is spending its each and every waking moment scouring film for even the slightest advantage.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Five of the Fed’s districts saw slight growth in economic activity, four districts had slight to modest declines and three reported relatively unchanged trends since the central bank’s previous release in early March.—
Melissa Repko,Michael Wayland,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While Samsung and Google will throw in some freebies, store credit or access to subscription services, Amazon’s no-thrill deals involve the device with no extras.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Professional Background Professional background extras know how to portray everyday things like busy New Yorkers walking down the street, posh guests at a cocktail party, or workers to board a bus.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incidental. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share