unintentional

adjective

un·​in·​ten·​tion·​al ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl 

: not done by intention or design : not intentional

an unintentional effect

causing unintentional harm/offense

unintentionally adverb

an unintentionally offensive remark

Synonyms of unintentional

• accidental

Examples of unintentional in a Sentence

an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall

an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful

Recent Examples on the Web

Mitchell’s own imitation of Spielbergian life, despite its meticulous re-creation (and gleeful destruction) of eighties suburbia, stumbles into an uncanny valley between sincerity and cynicism, between unintentional comedy and deliberate homage. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Cook argues this creates an unintentional selfishness, in which your anxious thoughts distract you from noticing what’s actually going on with the people around you. — Hannah Harper, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Christopher Nolan’s Catwoman was never going to evoke the (intentional) camp of Michelle Pfeiffer or the (unintentional) camp of Halle Berry. — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

Drug overdose deaths still elevated Last year, 1,554 people died of unintentional drug overdoses, up from 1,409 in 2024 and 884 in 2019. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unintentional

• interventional
• nonconventional
• nondimensional
• unconventional
• attentional
• conventional
• dimensional
• extensional
• intensional
• intentional
• multidimensional
• unidimensional