1
as in chance
happening by chance
finding the gold was all the more remarkable because its discovery was entirely accidental
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irrelevant
not being a vital part of or belonging to something
we're considering the painting's merit as a work of art, its commercial value being entirely accidental as far as we're concerned
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 accidental
Only time will tell if none of it was accidental.
—
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
The latter didn’t suffer the same accidental childhood death that Earth-1’s Keith did at the hands of his younger brother, Chris.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
But there is a substantial difference between the likelihood of that situation and that of gun use in accidental or purposeful harm, Moutier said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Firefighters believe the blaze was accidental but the cause remains under investigation.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accidental
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
The latter didn’t suffer the same accidental childhood death that Earth-1’s Keith did at the hands of his younger brother, Chris.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025
But there is a substantial difference between the likelihood of that situation and that of gun use in accidental or purposeful harm, Moutier said.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
Firefighters believe the blaze was accidental but the cause remains under investigation.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental
Adjective
-
There is this constant projection from bad-faith actors, who find the truth irrelevant to their desires to rhetorically position the work that artists are doing—and even reality itself.—
Helen Molesworth,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
My teaching skills were basically irrelevant.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
All times are the wrong time to leave even an inadvertent impression of it — but this time is especially wrong.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Early in the third quarter Yorba Linda appeared to have lost a fumble, recovered by Terry, but the officials decided that an inadvertent whistle was blown on the play, and by rule that play had to start over.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Cryptocurrency is stored in a digital wallet, which can be online, on a computer or on an external hard drive, according to the Federal Trade Commission.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Formal equality was only achieved in 1971, when the Ministry of Justice authorized women to serve in external police duties, and the National Police Board ended the experimental program.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The leader of a local hoteliers group involved in planning the Aftershock Festival said rain on the morning of the opening day was unexpected.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Comedian Bill Burr, after performing at the show’s opening night on Friday, defended the project on his podcast, suggesting that the cultural exchange could have unexpected benefits.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
5 July 2025
-
The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker.—
Mark Greif,
Harper's Magazine,
26 July 2024
Adjective
-
While most of the crashes, about 90%, are unintentional, Reiter said the numbers of crashes overall seem to be growing as drivers age, use mobile phones and other auto technology and get behind the wheel intoxicated or high.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The film’s chilling representation of American politics may be an unintentional departure from the novel’s more whimsical energy.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Those new to options trading should understand basic terms (e.g., premiums, extrinsic and intrinsic value, moneyness) and know the Greeks (measurements of an option’s sensitivity to various factors).—
Michael Martin,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Is your motivation for doing well extrinsic or intrinsic?—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
The leg to leg contact is incidental once the ball is clearly loose.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Food was incidental at first, but by the mid-20th century, eating had become the main attraction.—
Clarissa Wei,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidental. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share