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 As more immigration sweeps happen, Gordo is worried that there could be an accidental shooting or that police could end up caught in the middle if unidentified federal agents are pulling out their guns in public. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025 Now, police say their priority is finding out if the dogs’ deaths were intentional or accidental. Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 June 2025 Investigators ruled Coleman's death as accidental shortly after the incident in 2010. Liza Esquibias, People.com, 17 June 2025 Learn how to use gym equipment properly to avoid accidental injuries, if gym equipment is a part of your routine. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for accidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental
Adjective
  • Geography becomes irrelevant when AI handles the grunt work.
    Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • Talking about Linux in this context is pretty irrelevant anyways, since the Xbox consoles run a variant of Windows.
    Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • There is also a risk of inadvertent inhalation of spray sunscreen particles, especially when products are used on children.
    Arlene Blum, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
  • The second major change, which compounded this problem, was the largely inadvertent breakdown of prepublication licensing.
    Fara Dabhoiwala, Harpers Magazine, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Players can also continue to receive external payments from third-party NIL deals.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2025
  • The company’s intelligence platform claims to unify internal and external data sources, allowing investment professionals to ask complex questions in natural language rather than spending time manually aggregating information.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite — and a threat to the entire system.
    Matt Minton, Variety, 1 July 2025
  • But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 1 July 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
  • Some lives are lost due to unintentional exposure including babies, young children and public servants that come into contact with this drug.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
  • Others — many, as tax experts have told me — are unintentional and the result of the law’s complexity.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Is your motivation for doing well extrinsic or intrinsic?
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 11 June 2025
  • It has been observed that extrinsic rewards can override intrinsic motivations over time.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • The 42nd Ward is currently subject to a late-hour liquor license moratorium, according to the area’s alderman, Brendan Reilly, and Artis had applied for an incidental liquor license along with a food license.
    Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
  • The sweltering conditions were perhaps an incidental metaphor for the pressure the industry is feeling as the global luxury industry experiences a troubling slowdown.
    Alice Pfeiffer, CNN Money, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidental. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on accidental

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