as in coincidence
formal + literary
something that happens by chance
Our meeting was pure happenstance. We met each other by happenstance.
Related Words
Relevance
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 happenstance
In it, Neeson is Frank Drebin Jr., the grizzled cop son of original star Frank Drebin (the incomparable late Leslie Nielsen), who also happens to be seemingly genetically predisposed to wacky happenstance in his day-to-day life.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2025
By happenstance, one of his letters is intercepted by Julia Moriston, a razor-sharp woman who has put her education on hold to work at the Postal and Telegraph Censorship Office.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 July 2025
Roberts followed with a touching story about meeting Universal’s Sid Sheinberg in 1993 by happenstance with a friend who needed to drop by Sheinberg’s house.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 June 2025
Jin, catching the fervor behind the formulas, coaxes her to speak from the heart about architecture—in a scene that emphasizes the momentous happenstance of their meeting.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for happenstance
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Aug. 2025
By happenstance, one of his letters is intercepted by Julia Moriston, a razor-sharp woman who has put her education on hold to work at the Postal and Telegraph Censorship Office.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 July 2025
Roberts followed with a touching story about meeting Universal’s Sid Sheinberg in 1993 by happenstance with a friend who needed to drop by Sheinberg’s house.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 27 June 2025
Jin, catching the fervor behind the formulas, coaxes her to speak from the heart about architecture—in a scene that emphasizes the momentous happenstance of their meeting.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for happenstance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happenstance
Noun
-
If developing urban robotaxis weren’t already a formidable challenge for automakers, imagine a struggling supply base coincidence with cashflow investment issues and customer uncertainty.—
Steve Tengler,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Never a coincidence, as Swifties know all too well.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And the aforementioned circumstances at wide receiver don’t help that cause.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The agency's rule, narrowly approved by the commission along party lines in April 2024, would have invalidated nearly all existing noncompetes and banned new ones except in rare circumstances.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Happenstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happenstance. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share