1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an incidental meeting of two ships in the middle of the Atlantic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
lacking importance
we still have to work out a few incidental details, but the proposal is largely complete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nonessential
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 incidental
Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026
In the end, McAdams’ sexiness isn’t incidental, but integral to how she’s been misjudged.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
That’s nearly $500,000 in revenue per home game just on incidentals.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Adjective
But what distinguishes this series is how incidental all the superhero business is meant to feel.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026
In the end, McAdams’ sexiness isn’t incidental, but integral to how she’s been misjudged.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
Unless expressly stated, transportation, ground transfers, meals, gratuities, incidentals, resort or facility fees, security deposits, and all other expenses are the sole responsibility of the winner.
—Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
That’s nearly $500,000 in revenue per home game just on incidentals.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incidental
Adjective
-
Earle died in August 2020, during the peak of the pandemic, from an accidental overdose.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Racial categories in this country were not accidental.—
Rosalind Osgood,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Small appliances might break down or a minor breakage could occur.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The Sox also enter spring training with Jarred Kelenic and Dustin Harris among the outfielders signed to minor-league deals with big-league camp invitations.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anything deemed nonessential would be put on hold, so Americans could experience delays with certain services and hundreds of thousands of federal workers will go without pay.—
Caitlyn Kim,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Dealing with competition from smaller personal computers, IBM’s business model began turning to services and software instead.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Common tactics Supporters of both parties now regularly receive urgent fundraising emails designed to draw in small-dollar donations, a significant part of how political candidates and parties pay for campaign operations and political advertising blitzes.—
Joseph Morton,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Instead of filling shelves and surfaces with decorative filler, minimalists tend to only keep pieces that serve a function, or hold personal meaning.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Two fake firsts, seconds, and salary filler to get Anthony Davis and Trae Young is not too shabby.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The bill would allow immigrants like him, who have been in the United States for more than 5 years, to apply for legal status, but the bill has made little progress since it was first introduced.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Some parents might interact too much, or too little, and the play pocket might not encourage independent play as expected.—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Halliburton's subsidiary, KBR, came under scrutiny for multi-billion dollar contracts in Iraq.—
Julia Simon,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The move consolidates several of Musk’s major ventures, bringing his rockets, social media company X, Grok and SpaceX’s satellite Internet subsidiary Starlink under a single umbrella.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But because this all unfolded early on a Saturday morning, and oil-futures trading doesn’t open until Sunday evening, investors had a slight buffer.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
-
With an emphasis on energy management thanks to the uptick in electrical power, the introduction of active aerodynamics and a slight reduction in the size and weight of the cars, the drivers have found the new challenge refreshing.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incidental. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
