ACCIDENT Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

accident

noun

ˈak-sə-dənt

Definition of accident

as in casualty

a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury was involved in a minor accident on her way home from work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in luck

the uncertain course of events you shouldn't leave it to accident to decide where you'll be lodging in the course of your trip across the country

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 accident Only the Ryan Holder of this world died in a hyperloop accident ten years ago, and a third Ryan Holder, seen in footage with Camilla, may be the actual patient zero. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 The enterprise sent tow truck drivers to traffic accident scenes to solicit business, who then lied to get permission to tow the vehicles, according to the indictment. — Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026 In this age of over-curation, there is something comforting, perhaps even ahead of the zeitgeist, about the by-accident way the trio approached this home. — Plum Sykes, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2026 Elementary school students may have tantrums, be clingy, have toileting accidents, engage in uncontrollable crying or become less talkative as a result of changes in schools, homes and caregivers. — Nikki R Wooten, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accident

Recent Examples of Synonyms for accident

Noun

And for those who might further ask, If this is a war, who are the American casualties?

— Daniel Peña, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Security authorities in Aden said the Houthis targeted the airport with two missiles, with no casualties.

— Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of casualty

Noun

After the storms, Pritzker issued a state disaster proclamation that made additional state resources available for response and recovery, his office said.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Exhibitors include first responder agencies and non-governmental organizations that showcase new technologies, offer recruitment opportunities, and demonstrate local preparedness and disaster response capabilities.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Because the phenomenon typically reaches its greatest strength around December, NOAA says there’s a 75% chance that the current El Niño will exceed the strength of previous events dating back to at least 1950.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
The strongest upper-level forcing will remain northwest of DFW, creating a sharp gradient in rain chances.

— Michael Autovino, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of chance

Noun

The top prize there was awarded to The Lake, directed by Abby Ellis, a film exploring the environmental catastrophe posed by the rapidly shrinking Great Salt Lake in Utah.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
Mahomes’ rapid recovery from last year’s ACL/LCL catastrophe is great news for Kansas City fans and the NFL’s TV/streaming partners, as he and the Chiefs are slated to pop up in as many as 12 national windows before the playoffs arrive.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

The circumstances and cultural details may vary, but these unequal power dynamics between families and their domestic workers exist everywhere, to different degrees.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Such experiments have tended to thrive in contexts where landline-telephone use was impossible, for reasons of cost, infrastructure, or circumstance.

— Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of circumstance

Noun

Many more hurdles rained down in the three decades that followed — music industry changes, family demands, divorces, the pandemic, microphone mishaps, and recently, a management switch.

— Leena Tailor, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
After a weekend of alarming headlines about AI mishaps, public sector breaches, and agents gaining unauthorized access to outside systems, tech and AI CEOs are descending on Washington yet again this week.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of mishap

Noun

There’s a slickness to the carnage that rubs uncomfortably against the film’s humanist ethos, rendering artificial (for all Shen Teng’s trembling and mouth-contorting labors) the horrific tragedies that befall its characters.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
After Monday’s tragedy prompted Six Flags Over Georgia to evacuate guests, a spokesperson said the amusement park will reopen Friday.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tragedy

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accessory

accident

accidental

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“Accident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accident. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of accident

noun

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