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

Overly complex structures can create administrative burdens and unintended consequences. — Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Both teams found that the precision of the technique reduced the likelihood of unintended chromosomal abnormalities. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 8 July 2026

This might have the unintended effect of slowing down AI adoption, as companies realize that the expense of using AI eats into their profits. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 7 July 2026

Fear of being targeted Although our findings suggest that shareholder activists can influence many companies with a successful campaign that took aim at just one corporation, those activists also need to be wary of unintended consequences. — Hadi Shaheen, The Conversation, 7 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