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

His pro experience is limited, but his time away from hitting has provided Crawford with an unintended benefit. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 6 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

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