1
as in accidental
happening by chance
backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spontaneous
not made or done willingly or by choice
a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unintended
Across the region, heavy-handed American tactics will risk spurring backlash and unintended consequences.
—
Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Others worry the policy could have unintended consequences.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
The unintended consequence is that these analyses cannot answer the question most relevant to me — whether healthy occasional light drinkers reduce their risk of death by becoming abstainers.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Without much public debate or planning, these semi-engineered levees took on a critical and unintended role.
—Farshid Vahedifard, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unintended
Ian Bremmer, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Others worry the policy could have unintended consequences.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
The unintended consequence is that these analyses cannot answer the question most relevant to me — whether healthy occasional light drinkers reduce their risk of death by becoming abstainers.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Without much public debate or planning, these semi-engineered levees took on a critical and unintended role.
—Farshid Vahedifard, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unintended
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintended
Adjective
-
Elvyn Yohel Ramos Routt County Investigators also said Ramos filed an insurance claim reporting the fire as accidental.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In another show, with a lesser writer, such incongruities could be read as character inconsistencies, accidental oversights, mistakes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While spontaneous mentions of high prices increased for a fifth month, inflation expectations eased over the longer term.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
-
This could look like spontaneous travel plans, shifting your career focus or even a spiritual awakening.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The government had been unable - or unwilling - to fix it.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
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In the rare case where someone is unwilling to seek help and a danger to themselves or others, the law enforcement officer is authorized to take someone to the hospital to be assessed against their will.—
Eva Wen,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Even in outdoor settings, the broader ecosystem suffers unintentional consequences.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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This can help prevent overeating or mindless snacking that can lead to unintentional weight gain.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintended. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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