UNINTENTIONALLY Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

unintentionally

adverb

as in inadvertently

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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 unintentionally Summer is the time to be unintentionally vegetarian with recipes like this vegetable soup. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 While the circumstances may sound unusual, fire safety experts say pets unintentionally start house fires more often than many people realize. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 Police said several friends were at the home, and that at some point the teen unintentionally fired a gun, hitting a 15-year-old girl. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 July 2026 Parking lamps and daytime running lights that turn off or flicker unintentionally can increase the likelihood of a crash, according to the recall report. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 10 July 2026 Farina says one of the biggest mistakes travelers make is unintentionally advertising that no one is home. — Jill Schildhouse, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Good tax policy should expand opportunity, not unintentionally limit it. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 The organization says roughly half of those deaths occur after a parent or caregiver unintentionally leaves a child inside a vehicle. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 Nearly 85% of wildfires are caused by people, both intentionally and unintentionally, such as when power lines fail or campfires are left unattended. — ABC News, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentionally

Adverb

Investigators with the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal later reviewed Ring camera footage from inside the home, which showed the family’s dog, Bo, jumping onto the kitchen counter before inadvertently activating the toaster.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
Neighbors rescue two dogs from burning home Fire officials said Bo was the dog seen on video inadvertently turning on the toaster.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of inadvertently

Adverb

As the defender swung his leg at the ball, Yamal nipped in ahead of him and was accidentally kicked by Digne.

— Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Around the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, Nelson came flying in for a block but accidentally landed on Washington (12 points, six rebounds), who was trying to take a charge on a layup attempt from Portland’s Quincy Olivari.

— Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026

Definition of accidentally

Adverb

But Balogun may have unwittingly played a role in the team’s demise as well.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Storied actor Judd Hirsch played Daniel’s lovably neurotic father, who finds himself unwittingly along for the top-secret ride.

— Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of unwittingly

Adverb

But aside from the virtually non-existent rear visibility and my tendency to unconsciously favor the left side of the lane due to the car’s central seating position, the 21C is remarkably easy to acclimate to.

— Bradley Iger, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Many liberals had been disciplined to adopt methods that purported to strictly confine legal interpretation, only to discover that their most prominent adherents, whether covertly or unconsciously, had other plans.

— Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 2 July 2026

Definition of unconsciously

Adverb

And fortuitously, Napalm Death, who played a 19-minute set, espouse the same lefty politics as NPR, in fact maybe even a little more leftist, all things considered, since Barney Greenway wore a Crass T-shirt to the gig.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
Dean Fleischer Camp directed the film, which was originally meant to stream on Disney+, but fortuitously, things changed and, in 2024, the film was given a theatrical release.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 12 June 2026

Definition of fortuitously

Adverb

Flying an unmanned aircraft system carelessly or recklessly, interfering with a first responder operation, is also a misdemeanor under state law and San Diego municipal code.

— Sydney Brammer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2026
Officials said activities connected to people ‒ from fireworks to carelessly discarded cigarettes ‒ have sparked 75% of wildfires in Utah in 2026.

— Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Definition of carelessly

Adverb

This kind of beauty has nothing to do with perfection, which is distributed so arbitrarily and approximated so gracelessly.

— Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
This allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and no longer arbitrarily subjects them to traffic control measures designed for other types of vehicles.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026

Definition of arbitrarily

Adverb

Nimin High-Waisted Trousers This trouser option comes in short lengths and can be worn casually with comfy sneakers for brunch, or dressed up with a blouse for the office.

— Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
The actress arrived at the stadium sporting tight curls and a red tracksuit, while Swift opted for an all-black ensemble, with a red jacket–which showed her support for the Kansas City Chiefs–casually draped over her shoulders.

— Alyssa Rotunno, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Definition of casually

Browse Nearby Words

unintentional

unintentionally

uninterested

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“Unintentionally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentionally. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of unintentionally

adverb

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