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
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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
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Despite the humor Stiller brings to all of his projects, the physical comedy was anything but accidental.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This ambiguity is not accidental.—
Marc Schneier,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But such impromptu races weren’t unknown at the time.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Some stood on large metal dumpsters that blocked all traffic, banging on them, while others gave speeches at the growing impromptu memorial for Pretti, who was a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a VA hospital.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Worse, perhaps, leadership in moments of upheaval requires a certain theatricality and improvisational creativity that establishment Republican politicians tend to lack.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
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The bigger concern is the improvisational contributions from Nix — big scrambles, off-platform throws, odd-angle deliveries — have been a significant part of an offense that has struggled at times to hang its hat on anything else consistently.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Isa gives a behind-the-scenes account of an at-times improvised process on a tight deadline.—
John Wilkerson,
STAT,
20 Jan. 2026
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For the 60-minute monologue, which started as an improvised homage for the artist’s retrospectives at the Brooklyn Museum and MOCA Los Angeles 20 years ago, Smith sets out to help audience members get a deeper sense of the young man behind the myth.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unpremeditated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpremeditated. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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