1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unpremeditated encounter with an old boyfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
an unpremeditated verbal attack that was prompted by an unexpected question at the press conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unpremeditated
Although the murderers are often characters with redeeming qualities, Nolan Hurst (David Cross) is more sympathetic than most, and his killing of toy store manager/part-time extortionist Patrick Palmer (Drew Seltzer) is an unpremeditated act of desperation, not the settling of a score.
—
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Those who forgave depicted the moment in mystical terms—unpremeditated, unexpected, the words just flowed.
—Kevin Sack, Time, 3 June 2025
Richmond initially was charged with unpremeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
—CBS News, 31 Jan. 2024
His determination to capture the naturalistic, unpremeditated aspects of his subjects made his work pulse with a startling sense of life.
—The New Yorker, 11 May 2022
Sanick Dela Cruz is charged with unpremeditated murder and making a false statement.
—CNN, 9 Mar. 2022
Rooney also resembled Hemingway—and Raymond Carver, a renovator of Hemingway’s minimalism whom Rooney has cited as an influence—in her ability to write dialogue that sounds unpremeditated but has a neutron-star density of drama and emotion.
—Caleb Crain, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2021
Colloquial speech sounds direct and unpremeditated.
—Washington Post, 9 July 2021
Although in cancel culture the moral panics are roving and unpremeditated, they can still be exploited for the benefit of the dominant class.
—New York Times, 3 Dec. 2020
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Those who forgave depicted the moment in mystical terms—unpremeditated, unexpected, the words just flowed.
—Kevin Sack, Time, 3 June 2025
Richmond initially was charged with unpremeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
—CBS News, 31 Jan. 2024
His determination to capture the naturalistic, unpremeditated aspects of his subjects made his work pulse with a startling sense of life.
—The New Yorker, 11 May 2022
Sanick Dela Cruz is charged with unpremeditated murder and making a false statement.
—CNN, 9 Mar. 2022
Rooney also resembled Hemingway—and Raymond Carver, a renovator of Hemingway’s minimalism whom Rooney has cited as an influence—in her ability to write dialogue that sounds unpremeditated but has a neutron-star density of drama and emotion.
—Caleb Crain, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2021
Colloquial speech sounds direct and unpremeditated.
—Washington Post, 9 July 2021
Although in cancel culture the moral panics are roving and unpremeditated, they can still be exploited for the benefit of the dominant class.
—New York Times, 3 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unpremeditated
Adjective
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The New York Times later confirmed that reporting through more anonymous US officials, including one official who said US military investigators were still evaluating whether the Iranian drone strike on the helicopter was intentional or accidental.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
10 June 2026
-
The search warrant obtained by ABC News shows that federal agents were instructed to look for anything that would indicate violations of a law to prevent the accidental release of extremely hazardous substances into the air.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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The impromptu choir, alongside dozens of others in the audience, was advocating for cuts to the Sacramento Police Department in favor of funding youth violence intervention, a community ambassador program, homelessness services and fee waivers for underserved residents.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
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Cole spent February driving around the country for impromptu fan meets, peddling CDs from the trunk of his pre-stardom Honda Civic.—
John Kennedy,
VIBE.com,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Director Josh Rowland describes the new improvisational show as set in a place where bounty hunters with empty pockets chase high-stakes outlaws through a gritty solar system trying to make a big score.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
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All of those skills are especially important on clay and grass, surfaces where players have to be more creative and improvisational.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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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
Cite this Entry
“Unpremeditated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpremeditated. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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