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
For a 50,000-unit order, that is up to €700,000 in unplanned cost.
—
Muchaneta Ten Napel, Sourcing Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Because of this unplanned emergency, residents relocated temporarily for the night to local hotels and this morning with Fire Marshall approval allow residents to return to their units.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
After being laid off for the first time in his long career, Lewis said one regret tops the list of his unplanned exit.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The unplanned off-court time together could also be beneficial for the Mavericks’ four new players, including Khris Middleton, who scored a season-high 25 points Sunday.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Muchaneta Ten Napel, Sourcing Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Because of this unplanned emergency, residents relocated temporarily for the night to local hotels and this morning with Fire Marshall approval allow residents to return to their units.
—Jack Springgate, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
After being laid off for the first time in his long career, Lewis said one regret tops the list of his unplanned exit.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The unplanned off-court time together could also be beneficial for the Mavericks’ four new players, including Khris Middleton, who scored a season-high 25 points Sunday.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unplanned
Adjective
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Baker said Wednesday the bill’s life sentence provision would not include cases where a reckless or drunken driver caused the accidental death of an officer.—
Marta Zherukha,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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However, prosecutors say Lee’s questions did not accurately describe the bloody scene or his girlfriend’s body, which showed multiple injuries and blunt force trauma that could not be explained by an accidental fall and instead indicated a violent struggle.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But in a city like New York, where many apartments aren’t conducive to hosting on a big scale and an impromptu dinner is anything that gets scheduled less than two months in advance, cultivating Ramadan spirit takes a lot of effort.—
Sarah Khan,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
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The responses turned Deschanel’s negative review into something of an impromptu audition for bakeries eager to win her over.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That’s a strong hook, but Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke is just getting started with an erotic political tragicomedy that, like a Roomba, is forever veering off in unexpected directions.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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General Daily Insight for March 09, 2026 Cosmic wisdom can guide us to unexpected paths forward.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That reaction — genuine, visceral enjoyment from someone who evaluates food professionally — is about as strong an endorsement as an improvised pita sandwich can get.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
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And four years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a look at the many obstacles to peace and how Ukraine has pioneered a scrappy, improvised way of fighting, built around inexpensive drones.—
February 26,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The class is led by improv comedian and educator Amanda Lee Williams, who uses improvisational theater techniques to help future caregivers communicate more effectively with people living with dementia.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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Their collaborative debut has improvisational spirit and real feeling.—
Marcus J. Moore,
Pitchfork,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unplanned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unplanned. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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