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
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
These measures are designed to encourage early prenatal care, but an unintended consequence is that some clinics may be less able or less likely to accept patients who arrive later in pregnancy.
—
Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
Losing control over, misunderstanding, failing to foresee the unintended consequences of, and misusing or abusing emerging technologies are always significant risks for humankind.
—JSTOR Daily, 13 Nov. 2025
But past cases suggest the policy of deporting Palestinian prisoners abroad can have unintended, long-term consequences for Israeli security.
—Shir David, NPR, 13 Nov. 2025
Equal parts absurd and unsettlingly real, the film traces the $3 billion active shooter preparedness industry and its effect on students and educators, raising important questions about the unintended consequences of these intense preparations.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unintended
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.
Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
Losing control over, misunderstanding, failing to foresee the unintended consequences of, and misusing or abusing emerging technologies are always significant risks for humankind.
—JSTOR Daily, 13 Nov. 2025
But past cases suggest the policy of deporting Palestinian prisoners abroad can have unintended, long-term consequences for Israeli security.
—Shir David, NPR, 13 Nov. 2025
Equal parts absurd and unsettlingly real, the film traces the $3 billion active shooter preparedness industry and its effect on students and educators, raising important questions about the unintended consequences of these intense preparations.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unintended
Cite this Entry
“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintended. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share