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

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 This requires not just calls for restraint but the establishment of an investigative commission into the Pahalgam incident and a direct hotline between the two militaries to avoid accidental war. Faisal Kutty, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 Officials said Thursday morning the fire was accidental and most likely was spurred from work done earlier on the roof where flames erupted during the night. Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025 Although it’s not known if the crash was accidental or intentional, police said the homeowner was home when the car smashed into the gate. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 6 May 2025 Their partnership was born from an accidental introduction at a content conference in Miami. Matthew Kayse, USA Today, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for accidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental
Adjective
  • Brock Purdy certainly isn't going to be paid like someone who's irrelevant anymore.
    Cesar Brioso, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • But the details of how Peter ran his kingdom are irrelevant, if colorful.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • This failure for Trump may represent an inadvertent success for America.
    Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
  • Eklund is now recovering from the inadvertent cut during a tune-up game between Sweden and the Czech Republic on Saturday in advance of the IIHF World Championships, which begin later this week with Eklund’s hometown of Stockholm being a co-host.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • If your board or C-suite are uncertain about the introduction of AI, either through unwillingness to engage or a lack of understanding, consider bringing in an external consultant to explain the technology, illustrate application and allay any fears.
    Hugo Farinha, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • What to Know With each shift in U.S. policy or statement from the White House, Iran's rial swings sharply—revealing an economy increasingly tethered to external headlines.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • In a speech Thursday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested rates could be higher in the long term because of unexpected events that constrain supplies and push up prices.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Stirring it into egg salad or tuna salad is another unexpected way to pack in flavor and texture.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Lauren Heller Since Sagittarians are willing to try anything once, the Fire sign resembles Lauren's adventitious persona.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 31 Mar. 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
  • More often than not, however, the trickery is unintentional.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 8 May 2025
  • Her vast range of brushstrokes and marks, whether meticulous or unintentional, seems infinite and intrinsically intertwined.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The appeal supports the notion that an extrinsic test wouldn’t be the only way to assess the similarity between the songs.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2025
  • Our motivations—both intrinsic and extrinsic—propel us to acquire new skills, build meaningful relationships and progressively assert our autonomy by taking control of our actions.
    Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Footage labeled as ‘incidental’ — which is how the FWC says its two officers labeled their footage — includes FWC officers issuing warnings or non-criminal infraction citations, the policy says.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
  • Programs that nominally reimburse donors for incidental costs are either means-tested against recipients or only offer reimbursement after donation, meaning donors must be able to afford lost wages and other costs upfront.
    Ruby Rorty, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidental. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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