intentional

adjective

in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: done by intention or design : intended

intentional damage

2

a

: of or relating to epistemological intention

b

: having external reference

intentionality

in-ˌten(t)-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms of intentional

• deliberate
• conscious
• voluntary
• intended

Choose the Right Synonym for intentional

voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willing mean done or brought about of one's own will.

voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

Examples of intentional in a Sentence

an intentional and premeditated killing

I apologize for the omission of your name from the list. It was not intentional.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nikita Casap, 18, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in Waukesha County Circuit Court in connection with the shooting deaths of his mother, Tatiana Casap, and stepfather, Donald Mayer, in 2025. —Todd Richmond, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026

Demetris Riley was charged on March 5 with first-degree intentional homicide, a Class A felony, which carries a sentence of imprisonment for life. —Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026

The violence is intentional and, by Gyllenhaal’s own account, can be difficult to sit through. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026

At the closing arguments, Ryan McLaughlin, a deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, told jurors that Coleman should be convicted of first-degree murder on both counts, arguing that the act was premeditated, intentional and deliberate. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for intentional

• attentional
• conventional
• dimensional
• extensional
• intensional
• interventional
• nonconventional
• nondimensional
• unconventional
• unintentional
• multidimensional
• unidimensional

Kids Definition

intentional

adjective

in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈtench-nəl 

-ˈten-chən-ᵊl

: done by intention : not accidental

intentionally

-ˈtench-nə-lē 

-ˈten-chən-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Legal Definition

intentional

adjective

in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈten-chə-nəl 

: done with intent

an intentional tort

intentional discrimination

intentionally adverb