unintended

adjective

un·​in·​tend·​ed ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd How to pronounce unintended (audio)
Synonyms of unintendednext
: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended
an unintended consequence/effect
an unintended pregnancy

Synonyms of unintended

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Examples of unintended in a Sentence

backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character
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.
Introducing nuclear weapons into volatile regional disputes also drastically raises the stakes for unintended escalation, Facini added. — Anniek Bao,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026 But protecting information that isn’t actually sensitive can become an unintended barrier to growth. — Shea Murtaugh, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 California communities must not be threatened by the unintended consequences of a bill hastily jammed through the Legislature last year. — Shannon Olivieri Hovis, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 The pursuit was the latest of several so far this year in which a state trooper’s use of the ramming technique — which has grown more frequent under Hagar’s tenure — has had unintended consequences. — Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unintended

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unintended was in 1649

Rhymes for unintended

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Browse Nearby Words

unintelligible
unintended
unintentional
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Cite this Entry

“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintended. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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