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
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Recent Examples of accidental
The health system did not comment on the death, but the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office said it was ruled accidental.
—
Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Promoted throughout March, the seasonal crawfish giveaways began in 2024 when brothers and owners Nathan Aguirre and Ian Ramirez turned an accidental surplus of mudbugs from their own boil into something to share with customers.
—Michael Garcia, Houston Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2026
Kids eat meals, snacks and treats during the school day, so having a system to prevent accidental exposures to food allergens is important.
—Dr. Sonja O'Leary, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Holder is facing a slew of charges, including felony murder, a first-degree murder charge when a killing occurs during the commission of a dangerous felony, regardless of whether the killing was intentional or accidental.
—Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accidental
Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Promoted throughout March, the seasonal crawfish giveaways began in 2024 when brothers and owners Nathan Aguirre and Ian Ramirez turned an accidental surplus of mudbugs from their own boil into something to share with customers.
—Michael Garcia, Houston Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2026
Kids eat meals, snacks and treats during the school day, so having a system to prevent accidental exposures to food allergens is important.
—Dr. Sonja O'Leary, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Holder is facing a slew of charges, including felony murder, a first-degree murder charge when a killing occurs during the commission of a dangerous felony, regardless of whether the killing was intentional or accidental.
—Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental
Adjective
-
Being an irrelevant subject in the production of capital is an increasingly common positionality—and this is especially true for people who have been displaced by war or whose national economy has been significantly reordered by neoliberal reform.—
Shanti Escalante-De Mattei,
ARTnews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Everything the Rockies wanted to show their shivering fans was different about this team became irrelevant.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Justice Department has continued to face pressure and criticism over omissions, improper redactions and the inadvertent release of victims' names.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Many states that accept late-arriving absentee ballots implemented their policies during the COVID-19 pandemic when vote by mail surged in popularity and Postal Service delays raised concerns about inadvertent disenfranchisement.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Michael In signing Lorenzen to a one-year, $8 million contract, the most for an external free agent since 2015, the Rockies seemingly overlooked — or had to — his issues in Denver.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
When similar events occur during bull markets, external events are often a trigger rather than a cause.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Boston Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Expect bold, comforting flavors with a punk twist that always deliver unexpected food.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
-
If the goal was to build up a little it of pride about our local museum, and offer some unexpected fun to visitors, all the while doing it on a conservative budget, then that mission is accomplished.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
6 Apr. 2026
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
-
This can help prevent unintentional damage to local ecosystems and ensure that your garden remains environmentally friendly and sustainable.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Ducati says this is to avoid unintentional engagement of neutral during the last and most crucial stage of braking.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That authorization was broad and encompassed Gastineau’s name and likeness as reflected in extrinsic footage, such as that of the encounter with Favre.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Happiness means pursuing intrinsic rather than extrinsic goals One of the biggest lies that Old Happy tells us, Harrison explains, is that the pursuit of extrinsic goals and external approval — popularity, conformity, financial success, aesthetic beauty — is the key to happiness.—
Nina Zipkin,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Rainbow and Rainbow Miss winners have an incidental connection or two.—
Bob Wisener,
Arkansas Online,
5 Apr. 2026
-
These dynamics are not incidental to the format.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidental. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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