unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dÉ™d How to pronounce unintended (audio)
Synonyms of unintendednext
: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended
an unintended consequence/effect
an unintended pregnancy

Examples of unintended in a Sentence

backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The unintended consequences such as loss of lives of civilians including children raise moral concerns. Debidatta A. Mahapatra, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026 But the failure to fill this leadership vacuum is perhaps the first unintended consequence of the war. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026 But American intervention in the Middle East can yield unintended consequences for presidents. Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026 But some Democratic and Republican strategists argue that the system has produced a myriad of unintended consequences. Grace Hase, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unintended

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unintended was in 1649

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintended. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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