incident 1 of 2

incident

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adjective

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

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 incident
Noun
The Department of Energy’s order is effective through 10 a.m. on Christmas Day, and grid operators are to provide detailed reporting to the Energy Department and complete a post-incident special environmental analysis, a department spokesperson said in an email. Dallas News, 24 Dec. 2022 At Black Hat, the researchers argued that this strategy should also be applied to cyber-incident investigations. Kim Key, PCMAG, 11 Aug. 2022
Adjective
As seen on The Chrisleys, the incident took a toll on family morale. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025 There are currently no traffic incidents reported in this area. Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for incident
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incident
Noun
  • In her most recent outing, which served as the co-main event of UFC 315 in May of this year, Shevchenko successfully defended her title for the first time in her second reign with a unanimous decision win over Manon Fiorot.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The mission of those events is to get the truck in front of people who are interested in it, those who are already reservation holders and to introduce the company and truck to people who have never heard of Slate.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The song, which begins with the soft sound of an acoustic guitar, transforms into an orchestral accompaniment with string arrangements by Roberto Verástegui.
    Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2025
  • Many of us who are raised on or reformed by incomparable low-and-slow Southern pork barbecue appreciate cabbage slaw as a classic accompaniment, whether spooned onto our plate (AKA our tray) or inside a sandwich bun.
    Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, the record’s title track, out now with an accompanying music video directed by Floria Sigismondi, settles into an expanse of solitude.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The 100 winning entries will be announced on October 14 at the museum and on an accompanying broadcast on its YouTube channel.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Nevertheless, the Phillies and Marlins teams were aware that few things are as exciting for a young fan as getting a home run ball.
    Chandelis Duster, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
  • This homey boutique is a one-stop shop for all things Durango.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The conference call did not so much address the controversy as paint the campaigns — and the attendant exposure — as a kind of marketing masterclass.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Perhaps the most telling piece of evidence testifying to the importance of fire for our kind was the attendant suite of changes to the anatomy of the now-varied group of hominins, various species of which spanned not only Africa but also Eurasia as the Pleistocene drew on, from Spain to Indonesia.
    Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 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
Noun
  • The feelings those episodes often stir up can linger and leave you stuck being angry, sad and frustrated.
    Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
  • In the first episode, Johnson said the cast and crew only had four weeks to shoot the original 2006 musical film in the halls of East High.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • President Trump attended an important summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and concomitant energy infrastructure at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on July 15th, 2025.
    Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • The decline of men and concomitant rise of women in Democratic voting ranks has been observed for decades and is not expected to change drastically soon.
    Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Incident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incident. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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