ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spontaneous
not made or done willingly or by choice
an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unintentional
Smith voiced concerns about a mandatory life in prison sentence for manslaughter, an unintentional death.
—
Marta Zherukha, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every year in the United States there are more than 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths and these numbers spike in the summer months.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Is that another form of unintentional stat padding?
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Maas was quick to clarify — with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor — that the confusion was entirely unintentional.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unintentional
Marta Zherukha, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every year in the United States there are more than 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths and these numbers spike in the summer months.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Is that another form of unintentional stat padding?
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Maas was quick to clarify — with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor — that the confusion was entirely unintentional.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unintentional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentional
Adjective
-
The latest data leak is potentially more damaging to Anthropic than the earlier accidental exposure of the company’s draft blog post about its forthcoming model.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Each accidental catch potentially removes an animal that was alive before the Industrial Revolution.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Placental insufficiency, in which the organ fails to develop or function properly, is a leading cause of spontaneous preterm birth, experts say.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That kind of flexibility leads to spontaneous nights where what started off as an intimate hang expands into an all-out party.—
Sammy Loren,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some countries, like the Baltic nations, will be unwilling to upset Trump given their proximity to the war in Ukraine.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz is limited to its ability to disrupt tanker traffic with drones and missiles, deterring commercial shipping unwilling to take the risk.—
Newsweek Editors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet their snowflake-like beauty was unintended.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But the potential for unintended consequences worries me.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unintentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentional. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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