1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unplanned change in our itinerary—we got lost!
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
stumbled through a completely unplanned acceptance speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unplanned
Now that the bill of losing with no end in sight has come due, the club’s latest rebuilding era has arrived fitfully and — despite Rutherford’s suggestion on Wednesday that the club has been preparing for this moment for two or three years — it’s arrived largely unplanned for.
—
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Other customers may also experience unplanned power outages from the high winds, according to the utility.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
The result of an unplanned pregnancy, born several years after her three older siblings, Janet had always felt disconnected from the momentum of her family.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
In December, one Starlink satellite experienced an unexpected malfunction and began an unplanned descent.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Other customers may also experience unplanned power outages from the high winds, according to the utility.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
The result of an unplanned pregnancy, born several years after her three older siblings, Janet had always felt disconnected from the momentum of her family.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
In December, one Starlink satellite experienced an unexpected malfunction and began an unplanned descent.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unplanned
Adjective
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Dressed in his all-white tuxedo and matching skates, camera operator Jordan Cowan has become an accidental star at this year’s Olympic figure skating events in Milan.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Several parents of children who died by suicide or accidental harm linked to online trends are expected to attend the proceedings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Eaton and Palisades fire diaspora has played out in a sunburst pattern of impromptu moves that likely will never be traced in full detail.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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This isnt the first time law enforcement officials were involved in an impromptu heroic rescue.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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An unexpected medical emergency or costly diagnosis, such as cancer, can leave people thousands of dollars in debt.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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Navigating isolation and uncertainty, BOY forms an unexpected connection with a new physiotherapist while also spending time with his eccentric grandmother.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yet at just over three hours, and without a classic plotline, Dao can also be a patience-tester for those unwilling to groove to its improvised storytelling.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
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Five minutes after half-time, Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the space to guide an improvised finish home with his chest, after Gruev was allowed far too much room to cross from the edge of the box.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Blueprints were rarely part of the process, which tended to be more improvisational.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
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During various interviews last week, Minter talked about wanting to make things easier on Jackson, playing on schedule more and relying less on the quarterback’s improvisational skills to bail out the Ravens.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unplanned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unplanned. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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