as in sudden
not expected
ran into some unanticipated difficulties with the computer program
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Recent Examples of unanticipated
Scorekeeping watchers note that gap is due to the unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic and resulting high inflation.
—
Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 6 June 2025
The remaining production allows the company flexibility to meet unanticipated market demand.
—Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Hundreds more defaults than expected meant $68 million in unanticipated loan write-offs.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
The result marks an unanticipated setback for Merz who was widely expected to secure the necessary votes and be officially sworn in later in the day.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unanticipated
Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 6 June 2025
The remaining production allows the company flexibility to meet unanticipated market demand.
—Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Hundreds more defaults than expected meant $68 million in unanticipated loan write-offs.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 May 2025
The result marks an unanticipated setback for Merz who was widely expected to secure the necessary votes and be officially sworn in later in the day.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for unanticipated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unanticipated
Adjective
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Her particular specialism is making sudden bursts towards the near post, staying in the defender’s blind spot before suddenly jumping ahead of her marker to turn home a simple chance, often laid on a plate at club level by Caroline Graham Hansen, with whom Pajor also worked well at Wolfsburg.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
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Given the sudden burst of interest, agentic AI risks becoming something that’s all too common in business: a topic that everyone is talking about, but that few people actually understand.—
Tomas Gorny,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Whether your brand is facing a lull in customers due to the off-season, cost increases or even an unexpected global health crisis, flexibility is critical to embrace.—
Carey Bringle,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Most recently, the sporty staple appeared (and reappeared) in Chanel’s resort 2026 collection in unexpected pairings that were anything but prim.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unanticipated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unanticipated. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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