1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unpremeditated encounter with an old boyfriend
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
-
Garland died in 1969, of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills, but the tragedy did not hamper Minnelli’s ascent.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
An accidental house fire displaced seven people, including one child, early Wednesday in south Fort Worth.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Adding a 10-15% buffer for unexpected costs — a sick day, a lost bag, an impromptu ice cream stop — can save a lot of stress.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
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Adding a 10-15% buffer for unexpected costs — a sick day, a lost bag, an impromptu ice cream stop — gives you breathing room.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Against this backdrop, the president’s messaging has grown more improvisational.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Considering its loose, improvisational dialogue, stilted line readings, and tendency to break the fourth wall, Tender Touches feels a lot like a show Rick and Morty might stumble across while channel surfing on their interdimensional cable box.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In Russia and Ukraine, soldiers have learned to protect their tanks from drone strikes using improvised nets and boxes, which cover the vehicles like a turtle shell.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Last year, British electronic producer Actress and modular synthesis pioneer Suzanne Ciani performed an improvised piece titled Concrète Waves at the Barbican in London and Barcelona’s Sónar Festival.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unpremeditated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpremeditated. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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