as in sudden
not expected
there are almost always unforeseen consequences for any major endeavor unforeseen problems delayed the project beyond its deadline
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Recent Examples of unforeseen
The water main breaks were not due to an unforeseen natural disaster or terrorism.
—
Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
Sometimes, failure occurs due to simple oversights, while other times it is caused by unforeseen circumstances.
—Nancy Pulciano, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2026
Barring unforeseen circumstances, at worst, Toews is planning to potentially join his Canadian teammates a little late in Italy.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
But the technology’s promise means nothing if Americans can’t predict how these cars are going to act when the power goes out or when there’s some other unforeseen disaster.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unforeseen
Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026
Sometimes, failure occurs due to simple oversights, while other times it is caused by unforeseen circumstances.
—Nancy Pulciano, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2026
Barring unforeseen circumstances, at worst, Toews is planning to potentially join his Canadian teammates a little late in Italy.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
But the technology’s promise means nothing if Americans can’t predict how these cars are going to act when the power goes out or when there’s some other unforeseen disaster.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unforeseen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unforeseen
Adjective
-
Other affected customers, like KHOU meteorologist Pat Calvin, noted how the sudden technological disconnect felt like the return of a bygone era.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
-
No one is going to care about short-term interest rates if the dollar starts tanking or there is a sudden and widespread loss of confidence in the Fed’s ability to maintain inflation low and labor markets stable over the long-term.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The whimsical cover introduces readers to Saffy and Lumo, two best friends whose devotion to their favorite foods leads to an unexpected, and very literal, transformation.—
Sarah Jones,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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While the ordeal was incredibly frustrating for Johnson, updates on his unusual guest have been an unexpected distraction and obsession for a community that has lost so much.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unforeseen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unforeseen. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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