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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unplanned
Allowing the wheat to fallow — essentially leaving it unused to prep land for the next crop — or planting something unplanned aren't viable options, either.
—
ABC News, 20 May 2026
After the unplanned landing, it was scheduled to depart again for Shanghai later that night, but the flight was eventually canceled.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Travelers who put their phones away report being more open to the kind of unplanned encounters that define memorable trips.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Whatever your itinerary, Bowen urges a loose schedule, leaving plenty of room for discoveries and unplanned conversations.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
ABC News, 20 May 2026
After the unplanned landing, it was scheduled to depart again for Shanghai later that night, but the flight was eventually canceled.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Travelers who put their phones away report being more open to the kind of unplanned encounters that define memorable trips.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Whatever your itinerary, Bowen urges a loose schedule, leaving plenty of room for discoveries and unplanned conversations.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unplanned
Adjective
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Call volume during a typical Patriots game can more than double - hundreds of additional calls for help; Some true emergencies, others accidental pocket dials.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
-
Invasive species The authors of the research paper recommend that all incoming extraterrestrial samples be handled exclusively through advanced robotic systems within the lunar facility, minimizing the possibility of human exposure and accidental release.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The Giants first hosted Beckham for a workout April 20, after weeks of public flirting and an impromptu visit by the receiver to chat with Harbaugh at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Near the end of the night, several students reportedly made an impromptu decision to swim in the river near Dartmouth's student docks.—
Corin Cesaric,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Brith, who is ahead and in charge, is taking as her guide the stream, which sparks in the sunlight, cutting a narrow channel through the hillside, weaving itself around rocks and tree trunks, appearing and disappearing, diving underground then springing up in unexpected places.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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Bathrooms offer floor-to-ceiling black-and-white tile and benefit from natural light, adding an unexpected touch of polish to the otherwise playful design.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Garbage piles now choke nearly every Havana street corner, filling neighborhoods with stench, flies and rats as residents navigate improvised dumps outside homes, hospitals and busy thoroughfares.—
Andrea Rodríguez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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All-Stars will perform an improvised version of the award-winning podcast.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Over two minutes, a spectrum of Black improvisational styles battle on what feels like a Red Planet, interspersed with video game chirps and tectonic-shifting airblasts that cool the magma cooked up during combat, each one building off the other’s energy.—
Tatiana Lee Rodriguez,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
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Shange describes the night as having been both improvisational and in process for years.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unplanned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unplanned. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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