Synonyms of unintentional

unintentional

adjective

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

• accidental
• inadvertent
• unexpected
• chance
• unintended
• incidental
• unplanned
• fortuitous
• casual
• unwitting
• odd
• unpremeditated
• random
• arbitrary
• coincidental
• fluky
• haphazard
• unforeseen
• unforeseeable
• aimless
• uncertain
• unconscious
• involuntary
• freak
• desultory
• forced
• unprompted
• coerced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intentional
• deliberate
• intended
• premeditated
• planned
• calculated
• inevitable
• certain
• predictable
• sure
• foreseeable
• fixed
• destined
• foreseen
• set
• expected
• premeditative
• prescribed
• predetermined
• conscious
• prepense
• voluntary
• willful
• knowing
• unforced
• volunteer
• preordained
• predestined
• foreordained
• freewill

2

as in spontaneous

not made or done willingly or by choice

an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• accidental
• spontaneous
• unwilling
• unintended
• involuntary
• forced
• coerced
• automatic
• inadvertent
• impulsive
• will-less
• unplanned
• instinctive
• unpremeditated
• unconscious
• unwitting
• unprompted
• unknowing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intentional
• deliberate
• voluntary
• willful
• willing
• conscious
• unforced
• purposeful
• uncoerced
• premeditated
• knowing
• planned
• considered
• advised
• volitional
• freewill
• premeditative
• prepense
• self-inflicted
• self-imposed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unintentional

Disposing of unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs is important to protect children and teens from accidental or unintentional exposure. — Sunny Linnebur, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

Many in the industry agree that a lack of AI safety standards could cause real-world harm, like unintentional hacking of critical infrastructure. — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026

Anyone can take our photo and keep it on their phone—a permanent record of our potentially unintentional presentation to the world. — Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026

But leaving a stone or steel in the bottom of your oven could subject it to unintentional splatters and spills. — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026