accidentally

adverb

Definition of accidentallynext
as in inadvertently

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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 accidentally But Odysseus, craving road trip tunes after accidentally dropping his mix CDs into Charybdis, must hear their song. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026 Legend has it that bartender Mirko Stocchetto accidentally created the drink at Bar Basso in the 1970s. — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026 Ashton and Zachary Smith from Philadelphia are guests in Croatia this week after the couple accidentally celebrated their wedding in June with a crowd of joyful Croatian soccer fans during the FIFA World Cup in the United States. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 But the efforts did not deter the pack, and last October state wildlife managers euthanized four of them, one accidentally. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accidentally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidentally
  1. inadvertently
  2. unintentionally
  3. unwittingly
  4. unconsciously
  5. fortuitously
  6. carelessly
  7. casually
Adverb
  • This leads to River commandeering a woman’s car and inadvertently gaining a partner in her dog Monty, who doesn’t figure into the action but is most assuredly a Very Good Boy.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Executives who remain tethered to routine reporting or data validation could inadvertently create an organizational bottleneck.
    — Alexandra J. Zanela, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of inadvertently
Adverb
  • The advisory warns that violating Saudi laws, even unintentionally, can carry serious consequences.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As for the crack, well, that happened by accident when heavy equipment punched through a concrete wall and unintentionally punctured the sphere, company officials told The Mountaineer.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of unintentionally
Adverb
  • Anyone who waited by the stage door at London’s Trafalgar Theatre last year may well have unwittingly been offered a major clue about a development within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • When Jay encounters a giant squid being chased by a mammoth sperm whale, he’s unwittingly entangled in the former’s tentacles and swallowed up in one extended, terrifying sequence.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of unwittingly
Adverb
  • There’s also evidence that some mimicry happens unconsciously.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2026
  • In contrast to things neurotypical people do unconsciously, like twisting a strand of hair, autistic people’s stims can be dramatic, such as pacing or rocking.
    — Beth Hawkins, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of unconsciously
Adverb
  • And, fortuitously for would-be sponsors, something happened in tennis that made these arrangements even more appealing.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The earnings announcement was fortuitously timed, coming just as reports were surfacing of high-level OpenAI employees joining the company.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fortuitously
Adverb
  • Jasson Domínguez, still a liability on defense, carelessly let a leadoff single bounce past him and roll to the wall in right for a two-base error, but Cole managed to strand the runner at third and logged a scoreless frame.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Omar Alderete, O’Nien’s second-half replacement, carelessly did the same thing for the late winner.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of carelessly
Adverb
  • Unfortunately, there are too many cases in which an individual is chosen casually and lacks the necessary skills.
    — Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Chromebooks casually offer a handful of advantages over regular computers, starting with faster startup times and response rates.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of casually

Browse Nearby Words

accidental
accidentally
accidents
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Cite this Entry

“Accidentally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accidentally. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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