intentional

adjective

in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈten(t)-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce intentional (audio)
Synonyms of intentional
1
: done by intention or design : intended
intentional damage
2
a
: of or relating to epistemological intention
b
: having external reference
intentionality
in-ˌten(t)-shə-ˈna-lə-tē How to pronounce intentional (audio)
noun

Synonyms of intentional

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for intentional

voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willing mean done or brought about of one's own will.

voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

Examples of intentional in a Sentence

an intentional and premeditated killing I apologize for the omission of your name from the list. It was not intentional.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This shift reflects a demand for intentional, affordable, in-person experiences, moving from online audiences to physical spaces that cultivate belonging. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Maybe just don’t go into things expecting harmony to flow seamlessly with no effort or intentional communication. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026 The solution is intentional logistics management along with careful cold chain management. — Zuri Primos july 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 Making intentional changes each morning can set the tone for better heart health and make a meaningful difference over time. — Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for intentional

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intentional was circa 1677

Rhymes for intentional

See All Rhymes for intentional

Browse Nearby Words

intention
intentional
intentional fallacy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intentional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intentional. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

intentional

adjective
in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈtench-nəl How to pronounce intentional (audio)
-ˈten-chən-ᵊl
: done by intention : not accidental
intentionally
-ˈtench-nə-lē How to pronounce intentional (audio)
-ˈten-chən-ᵊl-ē
adverb

Legal Definition

intentional

adjective
in·​ten·​tion·​al in-ˈten-chə-nəl How to pronounce intentional (audio)
: done with intent
an intentional tort
intentional discrimination
intentionally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on intentional

Nglish: Translation of intentional for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All