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
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Recent Examples of incidental
Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
The use must be 100 percent for the taxpayer’s trade or business, except for incidental personal use.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Charna Flam, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
—Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Adjective
Another exception authorizes benefits where the commute has a dual purpose, both to get the employee to the worksite and to provide special incidental benefits to the employer beyond getting the employee to the worksite.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025
The use must be 100 percent for the taxpayer’s trade or business, except for incidental personal use.
—Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
Doocy said Williams and Wilmore, who spent 286 days at the International Space Station, would get $5 per day in incidentals, which amounts to an additional $1,430.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
—Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incidental
Adjective
-
The trauma Miami Dolphins fans experience isn’t accidental.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
-
The difference in these teams after this opening act — 80 minutes of often great, mostly white-knuckled hockey — was an accidental flip of the puck out of play for a two-minute penalty near the end of overtime.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
One allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail, and three deputies were struck, causing minor injuries, the department said.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
-
Four people were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries, and one person, the driver of the second truck, sustained life-threatening injuries.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
7 June 2025
Adjective
-
Yes, Georgia and Paul split this season as the blowback from the trial — and Paul's support of Proposition 38, disastrous for small businesses — imperiled his mayoral career.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
-
Farmers watered their crops less, and saw smaller harvests as a result.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Dahlias grown from tubers won’t bloom until at least midsummer, so choose something that blooms earlier for the filler to provide color before the dahlias bloom.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2025
-
The filler is made of 100% exclusive Hutterite, a high-quality goose down, and the shell is made of 100% sateen cotton.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 June 2025
-
An award-winning toy creator and a doctor have teamed up to launch a new company that manufactures products designed to make health care less scary for little kids, and less stressful for parents.—
Joan Verdon,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Spain has canceled a deal for anti-tank missile systems that were to be manufactured in Madrid by a subsidiary of an Israeli company in a bid to move away from Israeli military technology, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.—
Brittany Williams,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
-
Hutchison subsidiary Panama Ports Company has denied the allegations.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
In a slight twist on the usual, the chefs not only get to choose their own sous-chefs, but only those sous-chefs have been flown to Italy for the occasion.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
13 June 2025
-
Bure may not have meant it as a slight, but one of the more notable offenders was Growing Pains, which costarred her brother, Kirk Cameron.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Adding to the intrigue is how the action never really leaves the confines of the ER, so extras that appeared in the beginning of the series can be seen in the background by the season finale.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
12 June 2025
-
The Bombers rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to force extras, where the game was suspended due to heavy rain.—
Greg Dudek,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incidental. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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