unwitting
adjective
un·wit·ting
ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ 
1
: not knowing : unaware
kept the truth from their unwitting friends
2
: not intended : inadvertent
an unwitting mistake
Examples of unwitting in a Sentence
He kept the truth from his unwitting friends.
an unwitting victim of fraud
Recent Examples on the Web
The fake banking app, distributed via Telegram, reflects a broader strategy where messaging platforms become unwitting conduits for malicious activities.
—
Yaamini Barathi Mohan, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Griner, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, became an unwitting pawn in Russia’s growing hostility to the United States when she was arrested in that country on drug smuggling charges in February 2022, just ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2025
Kilmer plays Nick Rivers, a dashing rock ’n’ roller in the Elvis Presley mold who becomes an unwitting cog in a plot to reunite Germany when he is sent to perform at a cultural festival.
—Hank Sanders, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Greenland became an unwitting combatant, and the United States stepped in, not to conquer but to protect.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwitting
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Yaamini Barathi Mohan, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Griner, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, became an unwitting pawn in Russia’s growing hostility to the United States when she was arrested in that country on drug smuggling charges in February 2022, just ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2025
Kilmer plays Nick Rivers, a dashing rock ’n’ roller in the Elvis Presley mold who becomes an unwitting cog in a plot to reunite Germany when he is sent to perform at a cultural festival.
—Hank Sanders, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Greenland became an unwitting combatant, and the United States stepped in, not to conquer but to protect.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwitting
Cite this Entry
“Unwitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwitting. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unwitting
adjective
un·wit·ting
ˌən-ˈwit-iŋ
ˈən-
1
: not intended : inadvertent
an unwitting mistake
2
: not knowing : unaware
unwittingly
adverb
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