unwitting

adjective

ˌən-ˈwi-tiŋ How to pronounce unwitting (audio)
Definition of unwittingnext
1
as in accidental
happening by chance an unwitting mistake made in copying the material

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unaware
not informed about or aware of something an unwitting accomplice to the crime

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unwitting Donald Trump‘s ruse of hiding in an airport catering truck to secretly switch planes and evade a potential Iranian missile, leaving unwitting reporters and some White House staffers and cabinet members in the threatened Air Force One. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026 And then there is Kerkering, an unwitting symbol for all of this. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 One focuses on Ted as a teenage prodigy attending Harvard in the 1950s who becomes the unwitting victim of abusive experiments by his psychology professor, Henry Murray (Russell Crowe). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Most recently, the meme-stock mania during the Covid-19 pandemic led many unwitting investors to make rash financial decisions. — David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwitting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwitting
  1. accidental
  2. unaware
  3. inadvertent
  4. oblivious
  5. ignorant
Adjective
  • Healthcare workers will often wear personal protective equipment, such as an N95 mask, or even a full body suit in case of accidental exposure.
    — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
  • His death at 33 was ruled accidental, but rumors persist drugs played a role.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • On February 14, 2024, the air force struck a tunnel in that neighborhood, targeting two senior Hamas commanders, unaware of six hostages inside.
    — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Blissfully unaware of the industry’s collective eye baggage and only concerned about her own (non-existent) dark circles is Saoirse Ronan, who Eurostar-ed her way to Paris just for the Louis Vuitton show.
    — Alice Newbold, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of unaware
Adjective
  • Stewart recalls the whirlwind five-game series that included the star breaking teammate Sue Bird’s nose with an inadvertent elbow and game-altering clutch baskets by Taurasi.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The referees called a play dead over an inadvertent whistle that set up another third-down play.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of inadvertent
Adjective
  • Keeping her husband happy yet oblivious—managing his baby fever with staged fake miscarriages—only goes so far when Martha begins suffering an inexplicable illness that culminates in an impossible pregnancy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The $125 million production stars a nearly unrecognizable Cruise playing an oblivious oil tycoon whose drilling in Greenland dislodges an ice shelf from a glacier that’s going to cause a global disaster.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of oblivious
Adjective
  • Also, the incorrect assumption among those who either are ignorant of the real economic realities or just don’t care and just want to pander to their own districts.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The old worst dressed lists could be cruel, sexist, culturally ignorant, and spectacularly misguided.
    — Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignorant

Browse Nearby Words

unwisely
unwitting
unwittingly
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Cite this Entry

“Unwitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwitting. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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