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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 The store is designed with an easy flow of boutiques, each housing different day and evening clothes and accessories, from Zara’s more sophisticated ready-to-wear and tailored looks, to the brand’s trendy and casual styles. David Moin, Footwear News, 1 May 2025 In the legal ether for months, the plea deal was made public in an almost casual manner by an assistant U.S. attorney at an April 25 hearing. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 May 2025 Track fans and casual fans who tune in will have to navigate the way the league positions its results and scoring. Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025 The chest strap holds the pack in place if your casual Sunday stroll suddenly involves an unexpected rock scramble (not an unusual occurrence with my family). Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for casual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for casual
Adjective
  • These open-branching shrubs make an informal hedge that requires little pruning.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Reznick and some former Video Game Writers Caucus members continue to hold informal group meetings.
    Simon Abrams, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some setbacks stem from missteps, including the accidental filing of an internal memo that questioned the administration's legal approach.
    Amanda Castro Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have gotten rid of divisions that oversee databases on things like accidental deaths and injuries, including fatal shootings, poisonings and motor vehicle crashes.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Their dominance was complete and almost nonchalant.
    Michael Walker, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Sure, your cat may look rather nonchalant about it.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • More recently, the Trump administration’s sporadic tariff changes have made future prices more uncertain, which exposes people to risks.
    Sophie Mitra, The Conversation, 1 May 2025
  • The bench was sporadic during the regular season, and outside of Mitchell Robinson and Cam Payne’s performance in the fourth quarter of Game 1, the bench has been nonexistent this playoffs.
    James L. Edwards III, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s not to say that outfielder Grisham couldn’t be on his way to re-establishing himself as an everyday player or amid a career year.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Some of the best deals include: the Winny Sneakers (now $115, down from $130) for everyday errands; the Uptown Ballet Flats (as low as $46 in select sizes, originally $130) for a polished touch; and the Onyx Jamie Platform Sandals (now $116, down from $130) for a supportive lift.
    Malia Griggs, Glamour, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The 31-year-old will provide reliability as a blocker, while serving as an occasional release valve over the middle.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Those posts often highlight the overconfident way the AI Overview frames its idiomatic explanations and occasional problems with the model confabulating sources that don't exist.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • On April 28th, a sudden frequency drop in Spain’s power grid triggered cascading shutdowns, leaving millions without power.
    Mark Le Dain, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Then, all of a sudden, one of those teams had one of the top five players in the league fall right in its lap.
    Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Based on the research, participants lost about 7 to 11 pounds over 10 weeks while intermittent fasting.18 Remember, fad diets are not healthy for you, especially long term.
    Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The pair are searching for the source of a particular beep: the intermittent ping that a smoke alarm makes when its battery is running low.
    Kirk Johnson, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/casual. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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