1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unwitting mistake made in copying the material
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unaware
not informed about or aware of something
an unwitting accomplice to the crime
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 unwitting
What’s spoken to me most are the stories in which the struggle against oppression is something ongoing, involving unwitting enlistees and imperfect allies, and passed along to younger generations as the older ones are lost to exhaustion, disillusionment, or darker fates.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
This exciting Halloween adventure sees an unwitting babysitter (Tamara Smart) recruited to a secret society of monster-fighting teens.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Federal authorities launched an investigation, dubbed Operation Zhen Diagram, into a nationwide gambling ring allegedly involving members of the La Cosa Nostra crime families who allegedly defrauded unwitting victims of millions.
—Ryan Morik , Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Gottlieb is also known as the unwitting godfather of the entire LSD counterculture.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwitting
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
This exciting Halloween adventure sees an unwitting babysitter (Tamara Smart) recruited to a secret society of monster-fighting teens.
—Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Federal authorities launched an investigation, dubbed Operation Zhen Diagram, into a nationwide gambling ring allegedly involving members of the La Cosa Nostra crime families who allegedly defrauded unwitting victims of millions.
—Ryan Morik , Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Gottlieb is also known as the unwitting godfather of the entire LSD counterculture.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwitting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwitting
Adjective
-
These pressures are not accidental.—
Steve Hershey,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Why This Moment Matters The timing of this shift isn’t accidental.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Even cursory nods to the pandemic as the root cause of neighbors turning against neighbors aren’t explored so much as they’re acknowledged, as if viewers are somehow unaware of the polarization plaguing America.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
However, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office is disputing the clip to Fox News Digital, citing the department is unaware of any reports of a ski mask being found.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There was nothing at all inadvertent about its disappearance.—
Eugene Robinson,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Kevin Durant swatted it against the backboard, and then there was an inadvertent whistle during a scramble for the loose ball.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Most of the crowd is talking quietly among themselves, oblivious to Trevor Yeakley’s gaze, except for two men staring daggers right back at him.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Latif is doting and oblivious yet likeable.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Walz said children fear aggressive agents; critics called the comparison ignorant and offensive.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
One of Johnson’s former Cowboys superstars, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, called voters who ignored Belichick ignorant.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwitting. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
