ACCIDENTAL Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

accidental

adjective

ˌak-sə-ˈden-tᵊl

Definition of accidental next

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

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

Examples 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 Initially, investigators were uncertain whether the fire was intentional or accidental. —

Emily Wichick Hourihane, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2024 Over five years on, the investigation into what caused the fire is ongoing, with initial findings backing an accidental cause such as a short circuit, a welder’s torch or a cigarette. —

Chris Morris, Fortune Europe, 29 Nov. 2024 Investigators have said the fire may have been accidental, not an act of arson. —

Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 29 Nov. 2024 Los Angeles coroner Thomas Noguchi ruled Natalie's cause of death as accidental drowning and hypothermia. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for accidental

Recent Examples of Synonyms for accidental

Adjective

Meanwhile, Smartmatic's lawyers argued that the indictment is irrelevant to their lawsuit.

Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
While many of these Indigenous AI projects are in their early stages, Running Wolf hopes programs like his will be irrelevant in a decade or two.

Iris Kim, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2024