as in coincidence
formal + literary
something that happens by chance
Our meeting was pure happenstance. We met each other by happenstance.
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Recent Examples of happenstance
By pure happenstance, McDermott bumped into Kelly on Friday night at Anthony-Brown Pharmacy in Orchard Park.
—
Tim Graham, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The project came together by sheer happenstance when Halon Entertainment visual effects designer Jess Marley traveled to Santa Cruz to see his family.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
In a sometimes sloppy tilt-a-whirl of a game, though, this particular play was anything but happenstance.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
That performance didn’t come by mere happenstance, though.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happenstance
Tim Graham, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The project came together by sheer happenstance when Halon Entertainment visual effects designer Jess Marley traveled to Santa Cruz to see his family.
—Molly McCrea, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
In a sometimes sloppy tilt-a-whirl of a game, though, this particular play was anything but happenstance.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
That performance didn’t come by mere happenstance, though.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for happenstance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happenstance
Noun
-
In May and June, by coincidence, Jeroloman and head coach Rich Witten signed two color-blind players from Iowa – outfielder/reliever Boston Doeschot first and then catcher Caden Sammler.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The posts’ invocation of language and imagery employed by historical and contemporary white supremacists could, in theory, be a series of unintentional coincidences.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Who benefits most will depend on individual circumstances, but the biggest bumps are expected among middle-income households, families with children, workers with overtime or tip income, and some older taxpayers.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The Department of Homeland Security has not yet explained the circumstances around the incident.—
Kyla Guilfoil,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Happenstance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happenstance. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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