inadvertent

in·ad·ver·tent

adj \-t^ənt\

Definition of INADVERTENT

1

: not focusing the mind on a matter : inattentive

2

: unintentional <an inadvertent omission>

— in·ad·ver·tent·ly adverb

Examples of INADVERTENT

1. <an inadvertent encounter with a rattlesnake in the brush>

Origin of INADVERTENT

back-formation from inadvertence

First Known Use: 1653

Related to INADVERTENT

Synonyms: casual, chance, fluky (also flukey), fortuitous, accidental, incidental, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, unwitting

Antonyms: calculated, deliberate, intended, intentional, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepense, set

Related Words: coincidental; freak, odd; aimless, arbitrary, desultory, haphazard, random; uncertain, unexpected, unforeseeable, unforeseen; coerced, forced, involuntary; unconscious, unprompted

Near Antonyms: certain, destined, expected, fixed, foreordained, foreseeable, foreseen, inevitable, predestined, predetermined, predictable, preordained, prescribed, sure; conscious, freewill, knowing, unforced, voluntary, volunteer, willful (or wilful)

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