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
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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 second episode of Euphoria’s third season finds Rue basking in the glow of God’s favor and settling into her new life working for the strip-club proprietor Alamo (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), who tasks her with scooping pig slop and covering up evidence of a dancer’s accidental overdose.—
Zoe Papelis,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
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Photographer Hoda Afshar recalls the image as something almost accidental.—
Adam Pourahmadi,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In North Hollywood, a group of neighbors has banded together, turning their daily dog walking into impromptu neighborhood watches.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Originally, the family intended to launch the second one in Palm Beach, Florida, but when a real estate deal fell through, Bataller Parietti and his eldest son went on an impromptu father-son trip to Mexico, which ultimately led them to the land on which SHA Mexico now sits.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Percussionist and sound artist Colin Blanton mints a new alias for a suite of improvisational industrial jams where distortion is baked in at the atomic level.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
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Some of the musical experimentation feels like pure young, especially Parker’s use of falsetto, the contemporary-retro sound of a Hammond organ and young’s own improvisational sense.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And the group’s most recent album, 2025’s Live in Amsterdam, showcases the kind of spontaneous improvised moments, including Peters’ bass solos, that set GoldFish apart from many dance acts with more strictly electronic sounds.—
Al Shipley,
SPIN,
8 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Unpremeditated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpremeditated. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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