accident

noun

ˈak-sə-dənt How to pronounce accident (audio)
Definition of accidentnext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Large companies can spread that risk across many people; at a small business, one serious illness or accident can quickly raise costs. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 To many people, freak accidents like these understandably look a little funny, even fantastical. — Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 24 Oct. 2026 An accident broke the linearity of his career and reoriented it toward art. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 Friday, Idaho State Police were responding to a single-vehicle accident on State Highway 55 that was holding up traffic on the north-south connector between the Treasure Valley and the popular getaway. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accident
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accident
  1. casualty
  2. luck
  3. disaster
  4. chance
  5. catastrophe
  6. circumstance
  7. mishap
  8. tragedy
Noun
  • Overnight, Russia struck energy and civilian targets across Ukraine, resulting in at least one casualty, according to local media reports.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The drills include amphibious landing, air and missile defense and mine sweeping, as well as intelligence gathering, logistics and resupply and casualty evacuation on several remote islands, including Tanegashima.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of casualty
Noun
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Halloween fireballs Our last pick is going to take a great deal of patience, and a good amount of luck!
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of luck
Noun
  • Residents, meanwhile, can give firefighters the best shot at stopping a potential disaster by clearing flammable vegetation in their yards and fire-hardening their homes.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The goal, ultimately, is not to eat our way out of an ecological disaster.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • For Hernandez, the altar is a chance to grieve, remember and find strength in one another.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Ross started the second-half scoring, too, with another two handed flush off a pass from Demary, who started the fast break chance with his second steal of the game.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of chance
Noun
  • Without an authoritative accounting, Eisenkot argues, the country cannot fully reckon with the catastrophe.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Retreating Iraqi forces set fire to hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait creating an environmental catastrophe felt throughout the Gulf.
    — Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • Her physical absence changes nothing about the circumstances of our friendship.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Although landing a roster spot at a major college is a noteworthy achievement under any circumstances, Bryan faces steep odds.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of circumstance
Noun
  • A shot of her long, beautiful gams reveals no hint of a boot or injury so it may have been filmed before her mystery mishap.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Working with the era's primitive technology, Margaret thought through the various mishaps that could occur on a spaceflight and designed the software to handle every contingency.
    — Dean Robbins, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of mishap
Noun
  • But there is an important distinction between reporting a tragedy and allowing that tragedy to define an entire industry.
    — Dennis Speigel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The destruction of South Korea’s memory chip fabs would compound this tragedy and cripple the global economy.
    — Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of tragedy

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accessory
accident
accidental
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Cite this Entry

“Accident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accident. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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