ˌən-in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl
1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an unintentional encounter with an old classmate at the mall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spontaneous
not made or done willingly or by choice
an unintentional insult that nevertheless was very hurtful
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unintentional
An unintentional foul resulted in two more Bandelj free throws, but Fullerton’s Bryce Cofield tipped in a basket with three seconds left to trim the lead to 91-90.
—
Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025
In the past, the Supreme Court might have been more likely to rule that even unintentional discrimination toward people of color is still a violation of the Voting Rights Act, Kang said.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 4 Dec. 2025
But the first few months of unintentional abstinence forced me to get honest with myself.
—Essence, 3 Dec. 2025
Any overlap in respondent groups between the two surveys is unintentional.
—Joshua Shek, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unintentional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unintentional
Adjective
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Elvyn Yohel Ramos Routt County Investigators also said Ramos filed an insurance claim reporting the fire as accidental.—
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In another show, with a lesser writer, such incongruities could be read as character inconsistencies, accidental oversights, mistakes.—
Adjective
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Staff check in with you each morning and evening to tailor your day to your energy, mood, and goals, whether that's heli-fishing at dawn, a forest bathing session, or a spontaneous helicopter ride for a picnic on a glacier.—
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However, spontaneous and induced sleep promoted genome stability, suggesting that the evolution of sleep may have occurred to repair DNA damage and reduce cellular stress in simple nerve nets.—
Adjective
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Dolphins a longshot at best, especially with Fins among teams unwilling to give Harbaugh say over the general manager.—
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Another violent image now joins the grim archive that has made Minnesota an unwilling stage for national trauma for years running.—
Adjective
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Additional mortgage purchases by Fannie Mae and Freddie could temporarily help lower mortgage costs, but that approach also could have unintended consequences, according to TD Securities analysts.—
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The saga of Playa Bagdad, just over the border from a SpaceX launchpad, highlights the unintended environmental and social impacts of the global space race.—
Cite this Entry
“Unintentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unintentional. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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