unintentional

ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
Definition of unintentionalnext

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of unintentional Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 through 4, and in kids ages 5 through 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after vehicle crashes. Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 What remains an open technical question is how to guarantee those models don’t take unintentional or dangerous actions. Harry Booth, Time, 24 July 2026 This was unintentional and non-malicious, but that doesn’t matter. Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Also noted, snoring and unintentional daytime dozing appeared to have no effect on brain aging. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unintentional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentional
Adjective
  • Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly.
    Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In these spaces, the risk of accidental contact with poison ivy is much higher.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • This case is small enough for spontaneous games by the lake, in an airport lounge, or after a long lunch that stretches into sunset cocktails—even the simplest games deserve first-class treatment.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Doctors diagnosed the man with a spontaneous epidural hematoma, which is a blood clot that forms in the head or spine without any preceding trauma.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The United States appears unwilling to accept any conditions that could impede transit.
    , CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But the public’s willingness to defend it cannot be unlimited if universities appear unwilling to confront their own problems.
    David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • These concerns are becoming significant enough that OWASP introduced its Top 10 Risks for Agentic AI, highlighting issues such as prompt injection, excessive agency and unintended actions performed by autonomous systems.
    Oded Hareven, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • This turned out to be an excellent, if unintended, tick-control strategy.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unintentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentional. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on unintentional

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!