unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd How to pronounce unintended (audio)
: 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.
And Shuford is concerned about unintended pain for the retailers and distribution companies the entire industry relies on to sell furniture. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 The existing satellites cause light pollution as an unintended byproduct of reflecting sunlight, but Reflect Orbital’s satellites are designed for precisely that purpose. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2025 The Crystals are hardly alone in wrestling with the unintended consequences of a supersize inheritance. Christina Binkley, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2025 After an unintended encounter with a furtive woman (Gitte Witt) in cabin 10, the one next to Lo’s, the reporter hears a violent scuffle through the walls, followed by a splash. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025 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 15 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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