1
as in chance
happening by chance
finding the gold was all the more remarkable because its discovery was entirely accidental
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irrelevant
not being a vital part of or belonging to something
we're considering the painting's merit as a work of art, its commercial value being entirely accidental as far as we're concerned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of accidental
The wood-frame structure where the family had lived since 2019 burned rapidly, taking firefighters about three hours to extinguish the accidental blaze.
—
Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Watt's interception for the Steelers on Sunday night almost seemed accidental, the ball bouncing off players from both teams before somehow finding him.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
It could also be used by first responders and healthcare workers who want to reduce the risk of accidental exposure.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Issues during the pandemic and an accidental fire in the building in early 2022 slowed the Pulixi’s restaurant project’s progress.
—Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental
Adjective
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Sure, pundits and Twitter philosophers love to portray bowl games as irrelevant relics of the past that nobody cares about anymore.—
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The characters are lying, to themselves and to each other, but the role of the audience in believing or not believing their lies is totally irrelevant.—
Adjective
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Chaston Ditta threw two second-half touchdown passes, and East Carolina overcame an inadvertent whistle that negated a long touchdown in a 23-17 victory over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl on Saturday.—
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But such inadvertent collaboration with an authoritarian administration can have a devastating impact on civic and opposition groups as they are simultaneously targeted by the government and shunned by erstwhile supporters.—
Adjective
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Bidding and construction began in November So far, the building’s external structure is complete, with the installation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems ongoing.—
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Díaz-Canel was quick to reject external interference in Cuba’s affairs.—
Adjective
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The whimsical cover introduces readers to Saffy and Lumo, two best friends whose devotion to their favorite foods leads to an unexpected, and very literal, transformation.—
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While the ordeal was incredibly frustrating for Johnson, updates on his unusual guest have been an unexpected distraction and obsession for a community that has lost so much.—
Adjective
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Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.—
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The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker.—
Adjective
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There's a lot of coordinating on the back end in order to prevent unintentional interactions.—
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children and adolescents aged 1 to 17 years old.—
Adjective
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Common in the Ninth Circuit, the extrinsic test looks at comparison, context and, in a case like this, specific plot elements.—
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Nonetheless, too many workplaces are organized around extrinsic rewards such as money, titles, team size, and proximity to power, which can spark effort in the short run but rarely sustain it.—
Adjective
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That’s not incidental—that’s intentional.—
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The emotional and financial toll she has been forced to shoulder is not incidental.—
Cite this Entry
“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidental. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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