accidental

adjective

ˌak-sə-ˈden-tᵊl How to pronounce accidental (audio)
Definition of accidentalnext
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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective accidental differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of accidental are casual, contingent, and fortuitous. While all these words mean "not amenable to planning or prediction," accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

When might casual be a better fit than accidental?

In some situations, the words casual and accidental are roughly equivalent. However, casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

When is it sensible to use contingent instead of accidental?

While in some cases nearly identical to accidental, contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

When can fortuitous be used instead of accidental?

While the synonyms fortuitous and accidental are close in meaning, fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

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 accidental Most vaccines still depend on a cold chain, and about half the global supply is wasted annually due to accidental freezing or heat exposure, a problem that hits underserved communities hardest. — Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The parallel increases in support for secular politics and a sense of national identity are unlikely to be accidental. — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 An aluminum frame and protective coating help guard against accidental damage. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Related Eight years after his tragic passing from an accidental drug overdose at the much-too-early age of 26, Mac Miller’s catalog is more relevant than ever. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental
  1. inadvertent
  2. irrelevant
  3. unexpected
  4. external
  5. unintentional
  6. adventitious
  7. incidental
  8. extrinsic
Adjective
  • The bear-resistant container was invented to arrest the inadvertent cultivation of problem bears.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of inadvertent
Adjective
  • If the devil wins his bet, his gatekeeper role becomes irrelevant.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Adelaide had no intention of providing yet more entertainment for irrelevant people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of irrelevant
Adjective
  • The pom-pom sandals at Givenchy were wonderful, fun, unexpected and exactly what fashion lovers are looking for from a spring runway show.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Be especially cautious about unexpected texts or calls that arrive afterward.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of unexpected
Adjective
  • Disruptions to external infrastructure could therefore affect parts of its fuel supply chain.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In both wars, external support has made sustained air and missile strike campaigns far less likely to result in political capitulation, or economic or military collapse.
    — Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of external
Adjective
  • The ban may have had the unintentional effect of spurring them to action.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Being the unintentional voice of political pessimism can make a person something of a pessimist.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of unintentional
Adjective
  • Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.
    — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 5 July 2025
  • The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker.
    — Mark Greif, Harper's Magazine, 26 July 2024
Definition of adventitious
Adjective
  • But then the story stalls, zeroes in on some incidental detail, and collapses into a mode of reflection that is circular and recursive.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That’s called an incidental finding, leading doctors to investigate well before symptoms develop and possibly early enough that the cancer remains small and hasn’t spread.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of incidental
Adjective
  • Educational psychology provides a useful framework for understanding this phenomenon through the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
    — Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 July 2026
  • Extrinsic rewards, such as grades, do so because extrinsic desires tend to crowd out intrinsic ones.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of extrinsic

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Cite this Entry

“Accidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidental. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on accidental

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about accidental

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