ACCIDENT Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

accident

noun

ˈak-sə-dənt

Definition of accident

as in casualty

a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury was involved in a minor accident on her way home from work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in luck

the uncertain course of events you shouldn't leave it to accident to decide where you'll be lodging in the course of your trip across the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 accident The idea of full abolition—beloved by both leaders but not part of the Reykjavik agenda—was an improvised moment, almost an accident, and not some premeditated masterstroke (as the movie implies) by Reagan. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 Then, in the wake of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident in 2003, Russia began to pull ahead. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026 When there’s an accident involving a bike and a car, the driver of the car is usually cited. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026 Ideally, the data would be used to improve driver behavior and reduce accidents. — Andréa Becker, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for accident

Recent Examples of Synonyms for accident

Noun

Both fell into the water and caused no damage or casualties, the UAE said on Wednesday.

— Jenni Reid,Emma Graham, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
All strategic objectives in Iran are failing, while half-hearted support for Ukraine has resulted in a devastating surge in civilian casualties.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of casualty

Noun

Lan Larison had some hard luck with the rushing lanes he was given, but otherwise gave the offense no juice.

— Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
The Green Lantern, a secondary figure in the DC Comics pantheon, had the ill luck to be trapped in a 2011 Ryan Reynolds film even its director didn’t like.

— Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of luck

Noun

The baby’s father, Andres Garcia, survived the boat disaster, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told CNN.

— Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Rescuers continued recovering bodies from the artisanal mining site in Zamboye, near the border with Cameroon, but local workers said the response lacked the equipment and expertise needed for a disaster of such scale.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Historically, the ruling party in Nigeria's presidential elections usually has a higher chance of winning when the race features more than one prominent opposition candidate.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
But with races like the one in Alaska, the party sees an opportunity to improve its chances.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of chance

Noun

Massive crude stockpiles before the war helped prevent catastrophe when supply dried up.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
As the summer of 2001 wears on through the lens of Kopple’s camera, our knowledge of the coming catastrophe casts a shadow over the proceedings.

— Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

Police said Brown is from Alabama and has an outstanding failure-to-appear warrant connected to a case there involving similar circumstances about five years ago.

— CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait.

— Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of circumstance

Noun

Amazon expands drone deliveries The drone delivery mishap comes as Amazon plans to expand its Prime Air drone delivery service.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
The mishap comes at an awkwardly fitting moment for an industry that has spent years promising packages, takeout, and everyday essentials would eventually descend from the sky.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of mishap

Noun

At first, its plea to remain somewhere in an old lover’s life can feel like the whole tragedy.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Boeing has admitted fault in these tragedies, attributing the cause of the crashes to a flawed Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

— Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of tragedy

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accessory

accident

accidental

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“Accident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accident. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of accident

noun

Example Sentences

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'Accidental' vs. 'Incidental'

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