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as in informal
not designed to be worn only on special occasions a restaurant where people in casual clothes are always welcome

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective casual differ from other similar words?

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

a casual encounter with a stranger

When might accidental be a better fit than casual?

The synonyms accidental and casual are sometimes interchangeable, but accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

In what contexts can contingent take the place of casual?

While in some cases nearly identical to casual, 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 is it sensible to use fortuitous instead of casual?

Although the words fortuitous and casual have much in common, 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 casual This is accomplished with a more casual ankle-length height, a softly rounded toe and a far more discerning metal buckle detail. Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025 The singer has worn the same statement-making square-toe silhouette both on stage and off, styling it this time with a casual, layered look. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025 Your gift-giving must appear effortless, casual. Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 17 Oct. 2025 The entree is available for a limited time while supplies last, according to the fast casual Chinese food chain. Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for casual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for casual
Adjective
  • The venue’s intimacy, coupled with a more informal, speakeasy vibe, permeated an award ceremony that was notable for its moments of laughter and easy congeniality.
    Leila Cobo, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The Covid-19 pandemic meant that the research was slow to get off the ground and, more crucially, informal conversations Adamala had with colleagues in other fields, at conferences and other forums, began to sow alarm.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Past outages on this scale have been caused by a wide variety of errors, including faulty updates, the accidental injection of bad code, or a change to third-party software that doesn’t play nicely with a service.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
  • In the caption of her Instagram post, King revealed that the accidental encounter went better than some might think.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the rest of his look was rather, well, nonchalant.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Despite its hefty price tag, Chalamet styled the piece in a nonchalant way, pairing it with a leather jacket, sweatpants, and a cool pair of tan sneakers.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These factions do not hold stable territory, but their sporadic resistance — from raids to armed standoffs — signals the first cracks in Hamas’s grip.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Freeze’s scheme, however, has leaned too heavily on sporadic big plays and not enough on sustained drives — a formula that has left Auburn struggling in late-game situations.
    Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So many of McAnally’s song ideas have been mined from his knack for finding stories in everyday life.
    Nancy Kruh, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Buffett’s moves highlight a preference for sectors tied to everyday consumption and long-term goals, such as housing, energy, and consumables.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While some may view it as extravagant goods and high-end services, others see it as occasional splurges, unique experiences and good health.
    Maddie McGay, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Daily and nightly tours now offer visitors its complex history, along with an occasional paranormal scare.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The result was a sudden and deep selloff among regional banks, drawing comparisons to the churn of the 2023 banking crisis that consumed Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic.
    Hugh Son, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So, too, the hold Catholicism has on him, still (with intermittent lapses).
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Sheriff’s officials said in a Tuesday evening Facebook post that there is a 75% chance of more rain Wednesday, including mostly intermittent heavy thunderstorms with the potential for winds of up to 50 mph and quarter-inch hail.
    Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/casual. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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