ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spontaneous
not made or done willingly or by choice
an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 unintentional
This may occur due to an unintentional user error or a programming flaw.
—
Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who killed Floyd, is serving two sentences of more than 20 years in prison for a federal charge of depriving Floyd of his civil rights, and state charges of unintentional murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
The five leading causes of death among teenagers are unintentional injuries, homicide, suicide, cancer, and heart disease, with accidents accounting for nearly half of all teenage deaths.
—Charell G. Coleman, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Experts believe these deaths are often unintentional, and are sharks simply confusing human kicks for fish splashes.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unintentional
Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who killed Floyd, is serving two sentences of more than 20 years in prison for a federal charge of depriving Floyd of his civil rights, and state charges of unintentional murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
The five leading causes of death among teenagers are unintentional injuries, homicide, suicide, cancer, and heart disease, with accidents accounting for nearly half of all teenage deaths.
—Charell G. Coleman, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Experts believe these deaths are often unintentional, and are sharks simply confusing human kicks for fish splashes.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unintentional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentional
Adjective
-
Investigators ruled Coleman's death as accidental shortly after the incident in 2010.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
17 June 2025
-
Learn how to use gym equipment properly to avoid accidental injuries, if gym equipment is a part of your routine.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Dating rocks involves using radiometric techniques that harness the natural and spontaneous radioactive decay of certain elements in the rock, which acts as a type of clock.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
27 June 2025
-
The Bridgerton alum, fresh off his Richard II run, says Italy, cycling, spritzes, and spontaneous moments fuel his summer spirit.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Devers is a three-time All-Star and helped bring a championship to Boston, but was unwilling to make changes to help the team.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
-
La Plante noted that clients are generally unwilling to pay a premium for sustainable options.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
These experts can identify unintended consequences that technical teams might miss, ensuring the AI model serves all communities fairly.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
-
However, when used without strength training or adequate protein intake, GLP-1 use can lead to significant muscle loss—and unintended health consequences.—
Emily Cegielski,
Flow Space,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unintentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentional. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share