Synonyms of incident

incident 1 of 2

noun

ˈin(t)-sə-dənt 

1

as in event

something that happens

the odd little incident was reported in the local paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

• event
• thing
• circumstance
• episode
• occurrence
• happening
• accident
• occasion
• affair
• time
• experience
• phenomenon
• coincidence
• hap
• crisis
• emergency
• adventure
• fluke
• page
• landmark
• news
• turning point
• milestone
• freak
• juncture
• achievement
• happenstance
• deed
• co-occurrence
• milepost
• feat
• happenchance
• tidings
• exploit

2

as in accompaniment

something that is found along with something else

a teen discovering that taxes are the inevitable and evil incident of a paying job

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accompaniment
• consequence
• attendant
• corollary
• concomitant
• companion
• complement
• appendage
• accessory
• obbligato
• adjunct
• counterpart
• supplement
• follow-up
• trimmings
• fellow
• mate
• fixings

incident

2 of 2

adjective

as in accompanying

Related Words

• accompanying
• attendant
• attending
• concomitant
• contemporaneous
• simultaneous
• coincidental
• contemporary
• concurrent
• synchronous
• synchronic
• coeval
• coincident
• coetaneous
• coextensive
• coexistent
• coterminous
• coexisting

Dissimilar Words

• asynchronous
• nonsimultaneous
• nonsynchronous
• noncontemporary

Synonym Chooser

How is the word incident distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of incident are circumstance, episode, event, and occurrence. While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

When would circumstance be a good substitute for incident?

In some situations, the words circumstance and incident are roughly equivalent. However, circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

When can episode be used instead of incident?

The words episode and incident can be used in similar contexts, but episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

In what contexts can event take the place of incident?

While the synonyms event and incident are close in meaning, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

When might occurrence be a better fit than incident?

While in some cases nearly identical to incident, occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of incident

Noun

Targeting the wrong group could end up inciting an international incident. — Henry Larson, NPR, 15 Aug. 2026

In the second incident, the attackers carried out a few more strikes to sink the Don Maca before leaving the scene with the survivors, Cervantes Macías said. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Requires schools to adopt an active assailant response plan, train faculty and staff to detect and respond to mental health issues, connect students with mental health services, and establish threat management teams and to establish post-incident reunification plans. — Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026

That strong post-incident response has allowed its customer activity to remain largely robust, despite the disruption. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026