1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unplanned change in our itinerary—we got lost!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
stumbled through a completely unplanned acceptance speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unplanned
The throughline is an unplanned but inherent byproduct of Arsham’s iterative process, as his work continues to evolve along thematic threads.
—
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 Mar. 2026
Leaving the Wild bench and skating toward the Colorado end of the rink, Foligno had taken roughly two strides before an Avalanche player crossed his path and nearly got an unplanned seat on the home bench courtesy a hard hit from the newest member of the Wild.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
So much of this project has been like that, full of unplanned surprises.
—Blair R. Fischer, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
But the setting also encourages unplanned musical moments and spontaneous collaborations.
—Fernando Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 11 Mar. 2026
Leaving the Wild bench and skating toward the Colorado end of the rink, Foligno had taken roughly two strides before an Avalanche player crossed his path and nearly got an unplanned seat on the home bench courtesy a hard hit from the newest member of the Wild.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
So much of this project has been like that, full of unplanned surprises.
—Blair R. Fischer, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
But the setting also encourages unplanned musical moments and spontaneous collaborations.
—Fernando Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unplanned
Adjective
-
Garland died in 1969, of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills, but the tragedy did not hamper Minnelli’s ascent.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
An accidental house fire displaced seven people, including one child, early Wednesday in south Fort Worth.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Adding a 10-15% buffer for unexpected costs — a sick day, a lost bag, an impromptu ice cream stop — can save a lot of stress.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
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Adding a 10-15% buffer for unexpected costs — a sick day, a lost bag, an impromptu ice cream stop — gives you breathing room.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Reviewing these options in advance can help prevent unexpected medical expenses later in the year.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Chalker’s strategy for clearing his reputation—which had been the foundation of his lucrative business—was unexpected, to say the least.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In Russia and Ukraine, soldiers have learned to protect their tanks from drone strikes using improvised nets and boxes, which cover the vehicles like a turtle shell.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Last year, British electronic producer Actress and modular synthesis pioneer Suzanne Ciani performed an improvised piece titled Concrète Waves at the Barbican in London and Barcelona’s Sónar Festival.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Against this backdrop, the president’s messaging has grown more improvisational.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
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Considering its loose, improvisational dialogue, stilted line readings, and tendency to break the fourth wall, Tender Touches feels a lot like a show Rick and Morty might stumble across while channel surfing on their interdimensional cable box.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unplanned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unplanned. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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