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

Hayden Panettiere‘s death has been ruled as accidental and the investigation has concluded, the Greenville, South Carolina police department announced Wednesday. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026

The Greenville County Coroner’s Office in September determined Panettiere died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine, and the manner of death ruled accidental. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2026

South Korea later proposed talks on clarifying the border to prevent accidental clashes, but North Korea hasn't responded. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

Prior to Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin 100 years ago, almost half of all deaths were caused by infections. — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026