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 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 The Internet has unintentionally killed the suspense for nearly everything, up to and including concerts. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2026 Jellyfish are also passive drifters, meaning that they are often unintentionally carried towards shore by powerful ocean currents. — New Atlas, 30 June 2026 During a recent interview with Parade, Murray reflected on bringing Hilary Duff as his date to the 2003 Freaky Friday premiere — a decision that unintentionally landed him in the middle of one of the biggest teen celebrity feuds of the early 2000s, between Duff and Lohan. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentionally

Adverb

His decision to put Iggy Pop‘s voice and James Williamson’s wild guitar melodies up front (while keeping the volume low on the rhythm section) inadvertently created a template used by bands from the Sex Pistols to the White Stripes and beyond.

— Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
This could inadvertently create a legal profession divided by technology, hindering smaller firms' ability to compete.

— Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of inadvertently

Adverb

Miners flooded the dusty flats surrounding this area after three Irish prospectors, who had immigrated to Australia in the hopes of making their fortunes, accidentally stumbled across gold while looking for water in 1893.

— Justin Meneguzzi, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Iraq, Canada, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Qatar, Saudi Arabia After accidentally cursing President Saddam Hussein on stage, theater actor Salem convinces a military court of his insanity to escape a death sentence.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 6 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

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
Some folks in the band’s organization initially wanted to partner with a big beer company, but fortuitously, somebody countered idea with Dogfish Head.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of fortuitously

Adverb

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
Under a new Douglas County ordinance, illegally operating an OHV, driving one carelessly or recklessly, and not wearing a helmet if under 18 could land you with up to a $1,000 fine.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 24 June 2026

Definition of carelessly

Adverb

Discussions on workforce capacity often arbitrarily stop counting at age 64, despite concerns over talent shortages and aging populations.

— Sheila Callaham, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Six justices agreed that arbitrarily limiting how much party committees can spend in conjunction with their nominees violates the First Amendment.

— Editorial Board, Washington Post, 30 June 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

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unintentional

unintentionally

uninterested

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“Unintentionally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentionally. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of unintentionally

adverb

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