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
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Elvyn Yohel Ramos Routt County Investigators also said Ramos filed an insurance claim reporting the fire as accidental.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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In another show, with a lesser writer, such incongruities could be read as character inconsistencies, accidental oversights, mistakes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Organized by a slew of leading Japanese menswear companies, the event — now in its seventh iteration — is a city stroll-cum-impromptu-runway show of men decked out in full sartorial looks that has already taken place in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul, among other cities.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
5 Nov. 2025
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Dreyer learned of the award on Friday, when SDFC’s players and staff surprised him with the trophy in an impromptu ceremony.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Perhaps those types of fluid, improvisational melodies could only be born from literally not being strapped in.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
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The band’s concerts have become a hallmark of improvisational energy that has attracted a devoted and eclectic fanbase.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Mochrie then performs an improvised comedy act with the semi-conscious volunteers.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
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This writing had an intimate, improvised feel and often took a looser approach to craft; much of it was written with performance in mind.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unpremeditated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unpremeditated. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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