Synonyms of accidental

accidental

adjective

ˌak-sə-ˈden-tᵊl 

1

as in chance

happening by chance

finding the gold was all the more remarkable because its discovery was entirely accidental

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chance
• inadvertent
• unexpected
• unintentional
• incidental
• casual
• unintended
• unplanned
• fortuitous
• arbitrary
• unwitting
• odd
• unpremeditated
• random
• coincidental
• fluky
• haphazard
• unforeseen
• unforeseeable
• aimless
• uncertain
• freak
• unconscious
• desultory
• involuntary
• forced
• coerced
• unprompted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intentional
• deliberate
• premeditated
• intended
• planned
• inevitable
• calculated
• certain
• predictable
• sure
• foreseeable
• foreseen
• fixed
• destined
• set
• expected
• premeditative
• prescribed
• predetermined
• conscious
• prepense
• voluntary
• willful
• preordained
• knowing
• volunteer
• predestined
• foreordained
• unforced
• freewill

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

• irrelevant
• external
• adventitious
• extrinsic
• extraneous
• foreign
• alien
• unnecessary
• supervenient
• exterior
• inapplicable
• immaterial
• insignificant
• outside
• nonessential
• unessential

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inherent
• intrinsic
• innate
• congenital
• internal
• basic
• necessary
• interior
• inbred
• inborn
• essential
• inside
• deep-seated

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective accidental differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of accidental are casual, contingent, and fortuitous. While all these words mean "not amenable to planning or prediction," accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

When might casual be a better fit than accidental?

In some situations, the words casual and accidental are roughly equivalent. However, casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

When is it sensible to use contingent instead of accidental?

While in some cases nearly identical to accidental, contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

When can fortuitous be used instead of accidental?

While the synonyms fortuitous and accidental are close in meaning, fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of accidental

According to an autopsy report, Strain died by accidental drowning and ethanol intoxication. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

Continuing to flood space with expensive hardware that is increasingly vulnerable to accidental collisions could have devastating consequences — for astronauts, obviously, but also for a modern world thoroughly dependent on satellite technology. — David M. Klein, Washington Post, 16 July 2026

Mamdani claims the snub was accidental, but critics slam the socialist mayor's selective mapping. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2026

But an accidental drowning doesn’t seem to make sense, said Sean Daredia, another family attorney. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 15 July 2026