intentional

adjective

in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈten(t)-shə-nᵊl 

-ˈtench-nəl

1

: done by intention or design : intended

intentional damage

2

a

: of or relating to epistemological intention

b

: having external reference

intentionality

in-ˌten(t)-shə-ˈna-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• conscious
• deliberate
• intended
• knowing
• purposeful
• purposive
• set
• voluntary
• willed
• willful
• wilful
• witting

Choose the Right Synonym for intentional

voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willing mean done or brought about of one's own will.

voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

Examples of intentional in a Sentence

an intentional and premeditated killing

I apologize for the omission of your name from the list. It was not intentional.

Recent Examples on the Web

While OpenAI policies addressing misleading others and intentional deception arguably cover some, or all, such content, specifically naming these categories as being barred from creation and spread would give more clarity to users and protection to voters. —Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024

That increase would have to be intentional, Brittain said, but could likely be achieved through habitual changes such as taking a walk during phone calls or parking further away from store entrances. —Brian Mastroianni, Health, 9 Apr. 2024

Skull-shaping isn’t new in bioarchaeology: Many cultures have practiced intentional cranial modification, sometimes by physically molding infants’ pliable skulls to ensure a specific shape in adulthood for purposes connected to social identification, religion and trade. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024

Shore and The Comedy Store face charges of battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence, among other claims, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court documents obtained by USA TODAY. —Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

Israel has acknowledged responsibility for the strikes on the World Kitchen workers but said the convoy was not targeted and the workers' deaths were not intentional. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024

Quinn and Huskins reportedly settled with the city of Vallejo in 2018 for $2.5 million after suing three years earlier for false imprisonment, defamation, false arrest and intentional infliction of emotional distress. —Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024

The details, the shapes, textures, and function, are all very intentional. —Akili King, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024

Oddly, that 2016 occupation originally stemmed from a legal battle over another intentional burn. —Kirk Siegler, NPR, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

intentional

adjective

in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈtench-nəl 

-ˈten-chən-ᵊl

: done by intention : not accidental

intentionally

-ˈtench-nə-lē 

-ˈten-chən-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Legal Definition

intentional

adjective

in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈten-chə-nəl 

: done with intent

an intentional tort

intentional discrimination

intentionally adverb