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 Daria was the 13th child to be killed in a traffic accident in New York City this year, advocates said. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026 Things got worse when Sean, then 16, was in a serious car accident — a trauma that led to a painkiller addiction. — Emy Lacroix, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 Sabini was riding his bike to work along Hutchison Drive on UC Davis' West Campus near the West Village housing when he was involved in the fatal accident with a Honda Crosstour, as CBS Sacramento first reported in April. — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, a user named dedsheeran captioned a video of a flaming car accident with links to several organizations providing aid in Palestine, including Gaza Soup Kitchen, UNRWA, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and Doctors Without Borders. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accident

Recent Examples of Synonyms for accident

Noun

When a relationship ends, language is as much of a casualty as love.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
The transfer of 2,000-pound bombs had been paused by the Biden administration over concerns about the possibility of mass casualties.

— Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of casualty

Noun

Like many who were detained only to be released, Cazares needed a combination of luck and legal might.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Some Republicans could not believe their luck when Lawrence beat two more traditional candidates in August's Democratic primary.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of luck

Noun

Stagg, however, became convinced the day would be stormy – bringing swell and poor visibility that would spell disaster.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Sep. 2026
Nepal's disaster management agency said five more bodies were located in a different location and equipment was being sent to recover them.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Nevertheless, for homebuyers with thin credit histories, having an alternative credit score used could mean a greater chance of getting more favorable mortgage terms.

— Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Connecting with family history For Kassidy Angelo, Gioia’s co-founder and managing director, La Sponda signifies not only a new frontier for the company but also a chance to revisit her family’s heritage.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of chance

Noun

Sometimes a president doesn’t have to ask for the country’s attention, because catastrophe has already gathered it.

— John Dickerson, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
The catastrophe was a reminder of not only the destructiveness of Israeli bombing, but also the depth of the continuing privation in Gaza today.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

There’s a guy who wound up dying under mysterious circumstances that makes up part of him.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
When circumstances permit, a factual report, relevant identifying information, and any unanswered requests can be documented afterward.

— Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of circumstance

Noun

Ditka has been losing contemporaries since July of 1964, when Willie Gallimore’s Volkswagen swerved and rolled, killing Gallimore and Bo Farrington in a training camp tragedy.

— Dan Pompei, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
For other families quietly and often despairingly living with similar problems of addiction and mental illness involving their children, the tragedy is an unnerving, looming specter — a worst-case scenario made real.

— Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of accident

noun

Example Sentences

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'Accidental' vs. 'Incidental'

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