UNANTICIPATED Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

unanticipated

adjective

ˌən-an-ˈti-sə-ˌpā-təd

Definition of unanticipated

as in sudden

not expected ran into some unanticipated difficulties with the computer program

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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 unanticipated And yet, the realization of this goal often comes with unanticipated psychological costs. — Julianna Pillemer, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026 Guidance Tweak The future size of long-bond sales has been the subject of debate over the last week, after Treasury officials made an unanticipated tweak to their latest quarterly borrowing policy statement. — Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026 The unanticipated problem now is that the rise of artificial intelligence is making machines capable of passing these tests. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 In a statement to the Idaho Statesman, Crapo remained optimistic that the housing bill would become law despite the president’s unanticipated delay. — Mark Dee june 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unanticipated

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unanticipated

Adjective

In many such cases, Pennington says, parents will want to give each child an equal inheritance to be fair, but also worry about how the struggling child will fare upon receiving a sudden inheritance.

— Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
The account provided directly to Fox News offered a more harrowing description of the sudden descent, with the passenger saying people screamed as overhead compartments opened and power aboard the aircraft went out.

— Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of sudden

Adjective

Stubborn inflation, blowback from White House trade policies, and a formidable Democratic challenger in megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton have combined to turn ruby-red Kansas into an unexpected Senate battleground.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Mandatory statewide caps on property taxes would tie the hands of local governments to deal with the rapid growth and address unexpected emergencies.

— Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of unexpected

Browse Nearby Words

unanswerable

unanticipated

unanticipatedly

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“Unanticipated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unanticipated. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unanticipated

adjective

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