Synonyms of unanticipated

unanticipated

adjective

ˌən-an-ˈti-sə-ˌpā-təd 

as in sudden

not expected

ran into some unanticipated difficulties with the computer program

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sudden
• unexpected
• unforeseen
• abrupt
• unlooked-for
• unlikely
• unintended
• unplanned
• improbable
• startling
• surprising

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anticipated
• foreseen
• expected
• predicted
• prophesied
• unsurprising

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unanticipated

And how did most people react to this horrific, humiliating, unanticipated, life-changing sequence of events for at least three people, not to mention their colleagues and their families? —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025

The setbacks included a fuel leak and fire during a critical ground test, parachute problems, a redesign to accommodate unanticipated aerodynamic forces, and a computer timing error that cut short Starliner's first attempt to reach the space station in 2019. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2025

But despite an initial satisfactory emergency response, city leaders failed to meet the unanticipated recovery demands, leaving residents’ needs unmet, according to the audit. —Jaelyn Rodriguez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025

The state saved hundreds of millions of dollars with these measures, but the savings were largely offset by unanticipated cost increases elsewhere since the 2023 forecast. —Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025