as in sudden
not expected
ran into some unanticipated difficulties with the computer program
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Recent Examples of unanticipated
Americans report having an emergency fund to cover unanticipated expenses of $1,000 or more.
—
Mark Davis, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Insurers continue to clarify AI coverage by introducing endorsements that affirm coverage for certain AI risks or by adding exclusions to standard policies to avoid unanticipated exposure.
—John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
In 2012, Connecticut passed the first Sewage Right-to-Know law requiring DEEP to post the locations of combined sewer overflows and to begin posting unanticipated sewage spills on the agency’s website.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
Despite surging inflation and tariff and trade policies that seemed to shift with the wind, automakers from all over the world delivered some unanticipated goodies for customers.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unanticipated
Mark Davis, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Insurers continue to clarify AI coverage by introducing endorsements that affirm coverage for certain AI risks or by adding exclusions to standard policies to avoid unanticipated exposure.
—John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
In 2012, Connecticut passed the first Sewage Right-to-Know law requiring DEEP to post the locations of combined sewer overflows and to begin posting unanticipated sewage spills on the agency’s website.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 16 Jan. 2026
Despite surging inflation and tariff and trade policies that seemed to shift with the wind, automakers from all over the world delivered some unanticipated goodies for customers.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unanticipated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unanticipated
Adjective
-
Two years before Tony Clark’s sudden resignation made Bruce Meyer the head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, Meyer composed a letter to quiet the union members calling for his ouster.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The Major League Baseball Players Association has elected a new executive director following the sudden departure of Tony Clark, who had led the union for over a decade.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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An unexpected medical emergency or costly diagnosis, such as cancer, can leave people thousands of dollars in debt.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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Navigating isolation and uncertainty, BOY forms an unexpected connection with a new physiotherapist while also spending time with his eccentric grandmother.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unanticipated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unanticipated. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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