unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd 

: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended

an unintended consequence/effect

an unintended pregnancy

Synonyms of unintended

• accidental

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

Many department policies tell officers to move out of the way of a vehicle rather than shoot because of the potential harm to bystanders who could be struck by unintended gunfire or by a careening vehicle if the driver is incapacitated. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

Some analysts caution that aggressive interventions can sometimes create unintended market signals. — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 July 2026

Building those guardrails now will help ensure the technology delivers benefits while minimizing unintended consequences. — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Plus, Donovan Myrie from WKMG News 6 looks at Florida’s new approach to tax holidays and whether changes adopted by the Legislature in 2025 could have an unintended impact on hurricane preparedness. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unintended

• apprehended
• comprehended
• condescended
• recommended
• resuspended
• unamended
• unattended
• undefended
• undescended
• unexpended
• amended
• appended