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 In 2020, Ben Motal aptly persuaded the Court of Appeals that the FOIA's right to copy records includes photographing them, after Little Rock incredibly barred him from snapping a picture of an accident report. — Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026 McMinnville Municipal Airport remained open following the accident, according to reports. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026 Awkward relationships have to be dispatched with abrupt carriage accidents. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026 Drive one long enough and an accident is basically inevitable. — Literary Hub, 30 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
  • Final casualty figures from Monday's attack in Nyala are unconfirmed amid limited information from the city.
    — YASSIR ABDALLA, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Haynes was the casualty in Seattle to make room on the roster.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 28 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
  • Spain’s second high-speed rail disaster this year, in which one train struck another from behind, killing 69 people, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of the country’s rail network ahead of a national election.
    — Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The new rail disaster can't help the prospects of his Socialist party.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 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
  • Since Benson and her co-authors met in Oviedo, weather catastrophes have multiplied, oceans have acidified and the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has soared.
    — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • But this latest catastrophe could clip the wings of any comeback.
    — Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • The value of a life insurance policy, like any other insurance coverage, however, is relative to the policyholder, their financial circumstances and their goals.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Why should two families in similar circumstances pay such wildly different taxes when all else is equal?
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of circumstance
Noun
  • When there’s a box office misfire, the media quite often likes to uncover some sort of major mishap on set.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026
  • This strategy also gives you space to address any mishaps and take a breather before guests arrive.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 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

Browse Nearby Words

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 4 Nov. 2026.

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