as in inadvertently
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Recent Examples of unintentionally
Gutters and vents can also unintentionally guide mice inside.
—
Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Therapists have long seen how the human drive to avoid pain can unintentionally strengthen it.
—Dr. Jesse Finkelstein, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Too many Angelenos, often unintentionally or due to ignorance, had fed coyotes.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
The presence of the birds is a relatively recent development, beginning after a local resident planted bamboo on the site, unintentionally creating the foundation for an urban refuge.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
For some reason, these things are happening today, and many times quite unintentionally.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
Carefully anonymizing survivors while breathlessly chasing a client list of powerful men unintentionally sends a message about who matters most.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
These, um, freethinkers were unintentionally encouraged by the airport’s art.
—Charlie Sosnick, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Dec. 2025
Without checking blind spots, a driver could unintentionally veer their car into another car or oncoming traffic.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Therapists have long seen how the human drive to avoid pain can unintentionally strengthen it.
—Dr. Jesse Finkelstein, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Too many Angelenos, often unintentionally or due to ignorance, had fed coyotes.
—Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
The presence of the birds is a relatively recent development, beginning after a local resident planted bamboo on the site, unintentionally creating the foundation for an urban refuge.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
For some reason, these things are happening today, and many times quite unintentionally.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
Carefully anonymizing survivors while breathlessly chasing a client list of powerful men unintentionally sends a message about who matters most.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
These, um, freethinkers were unintentionally encouraged by the airport’s art.
—Charlie Sosnick, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Dec. 2025
Without checking blind spots, a driver could unintentionally veer their car into another car or oncoming traffic.
—Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentionally
Adverb
-
If a popular crypto investor with a sizable following predicts that the value of a coin is about to plummet, that can lead to many people selling off their shares in that coin, and inadvertently causing the very decline which was predicted.—
Malana VanTyler,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Jan. 2026
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Dellandrea was injured in the Sharks’ game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as his right leg struck the post after he was inadvertently tripped while driving to the net.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The campaign kicked off with what appeared to be an internal memo that had been accidentally leaked, complete with handwritten notes.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In fact, this six-episode series about women of a certain age who form a punk band to compete in a local talent competition—and accidentally change their lives in the process—is totally gripping.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Bode will play Greta Mills, Ro’s smart, witty and ambitious research partner who unwittingly becomes entangled in the film’s violent conflict.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Well-meaning people who try to control another person’s grief may misunderstand that grief is a singular experience or may be unwittingly trying to assuage their own discomfort.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
That was a privilege to have that much time to process something, almost unconsciously but also consciously.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
6 Jan. 2026
-
What art aims for consciously or unconsciously—that boundary between mystery and what can be known, between the hidden and what can be seen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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The following week – fortuitously a bye week for the Knights – Curtis had his first chemo treatment at the Mayo Clinic.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 Nov. 2025
-
But their next drive started fortuitously, when Nix seemingly overthrew a receiver only for the ball to fall into the hands of an awaiting Marvin Mims for a 29-yard gain.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
20 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
As flawed generative AI tools continue to be used carelessly, without the necessary follow-up work of checking for hallucinations, experts warn that agencies like NWS could inflict serious damage to their reputation and authority.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Florida has a prohibition on carelessly carrying a gun.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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In its latest estimate, Foro Penal, an independent NGO that provides pro bono legal services to people detained arbitrarily, said more than 800 political prisoners were still behind bars.—
Flora Charner,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
France had maintained Vinatier was arbitrarily detained and had called for his release.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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In the video, which is credited to Parade, Nick Jonas can be seen hanging outside the awards show by himself, casually sipping on a water bottle.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Keds Square-Toe Mary Jane Sneakers Keds are classics for a reason—they’re casually polished and super wearable.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unintentionally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentionally. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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