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unplanned

adjective

ˌən-ˈpland How to pronounce unplanned (audio)
Definition of unplannednext
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

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 unplanned Captured during an unplanned morning dive, the image reveals the calm trust that can exist between people and marine life, a reminder that patience and respect for the ocean often lead to its most extraordinary moments. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 But the unplanned sprawl of African cities is poking holes in that theory. — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026 That 145-basis-point benefit got trimmed by 60 basis points of unplanned cost inflation, leaving 85 basis points. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 Though the rocket collision was unplanned, NASA researchers said the event did not pose a threat to anyone on Earth or to the lunar surface. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unplanned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unplanned
  1. accidental
  2. impromptu
  3. unexpected
  4. improvised
  5. improvisational
Adjective
  • For this reason, users are becoming more anxious about protecting their smartphones from accidental drops.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Brussels must recognize this strength and treat the durability of its institutional framework as a deliberate asset rather than an accidental feature.
    — JONAS NAHM, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • There is always an excuse for an impromptu barbecue, either with meat or, even better, fresh seafood; almost every group of friends here has at least one good fisherman.
    — Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
  • These impromptu scrapes have no communication value — unlike community scrapes.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of impromptu
Adjective
  • The Katonah Museum of Art is an unexpected stop for rotating exhibitions of cross-disciplinary visual art, while Philip Johnson’s Glass House in nearby New Canaan is also worth a half-day excursion.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The scalloped trim along the front pockets is an unexpected detail that sets them apart from a standard pair of pants, while the relaxed silhouette is still easy to style with sweaters, tees, and button-downs.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of unexpected
Adjective
  • As Yusuf helps Abu Khalil with his historical reenactment and builds his public profile through social media, the three become an improvised family.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The 1986 film Frauenträume (Women’s Dreams), for instance, includes flight experiments on rooftops, love acts with an improvised rocket, and the emergence of a third breast at the center of a torso.
    — Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of improvised
Adjective
  • Tsepetis’s improvisational approach to hospitality creates a home-away-from-home warmth that keeps many of his guests returning, year after year.
    — Noo Saro-Wiwa, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Washington didn’t do enough this offseason to close the gap, and Jayden Daniels’ improvisational style still carries injury risk.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of improvisational

Browse Nearby Words

unperturbed
unplanned
unplausible
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Cite this Entry

“Unplanned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unplanned. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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