accidents
They just happen
Accidents are unplanned events, typically with negative consequences.
A car accident involves a collision; an industrial accident causes injury.
The word often implies no one is at fault: It was an accident—I didn't mean to break it.
By accident means unintentionally: I deleted the file by accident.
Euphemistically, an accident can be a child from an unplanned pregnancy, or a loss of bladder control: The puppy had an accident on the rug.
Not done on purpose
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- randomOccurring without pattern
- flukeChance stroke of luck
inadvertent · unplanned · spontaneous · happenstance · serendipity · luck · penicillin
Sudden violent impact
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- pileupSequential vehicular collision
- fender-benderMinor vehicle collision
rear-end · t-bone · head-on · sideswipe · rollover · jackknife · skid · totaled
Foolish, costly mistake
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slipMinor error or misstep
- fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
- bungleFail through clumsiness
gaffe · blooper · goof · snafu · clanger · trip · spill · stumble
Lasting psychological wound
- fractureSplit in hard material
- concussionBrain injury from impact
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
- sprainLigament stretch injury
burn · abrasion · contusion · hemorrhage · dislocation · wound · scar · stitches
Of factories and production
- constructionProcess of building something
- factoryIndustrial production facility
- machineryCollective mechanical equipment
- scaffoldingTemporary exterior work platform
OSHA · harness · forklift · electrocution · fall · ladder · negligence · liability
unintended
Not done on purpose
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- randomOccurring without pattern
fluke · inadvertent · unplanned · spontaneous · happenstance · serendipity · luck · penicillin
crash
Sudden violent impact
- impactForceful contact or consequence
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- pileupSequential vehicular collision
fender-bender · rear-end · t-bone · head-on · sideswipe · rollover · jackknife · skid · totaled · airbags
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
bungle · gaffe · blooper · goof · snafu · clanger · trip · spill · stumble · oops
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- fractureSplit in hard material
- concussionBrain injury from impact
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
sprain · burn · abrasion · contusion · hemorrhage · dislocation · wound · scar · stitches · bandage
industrial
Of factories and production
- constructionProcess of building something
- factoryIndustrial production facility
- machineryCollective mechanical equipment
scaffolding · OSHA · harness · forklift · electrocution · fall · ladder · negligence · liability · hazard
catastrophe
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- earthquakeSeismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
flood · wildfire · avalanche · explosion · derailment · shipwreck · nuclear · Chernobyl · Bhopal · environmental
- driving hazardspotholes, black ice, debris, road debris, icy roads
- housetrainingpotty training, toilet training, housebreaking, housebroken, house-trained
- pet problemsaggression, barking, biting, chewing, digging
- transportation issuestraffic congestion, traffic jams, congestion, gridlock, road safety
- urban hazardspotholes, crime, traffic, sinkholes, gas leaks
- unpredictablessurprises, chance, randomness, uncertainty, unpredictables
accidentsdesigns
Creates or conceives layouts
calculations · plans · plots · schemes · machinations
accidentscertainties
Assured truths
inevitabilities · foregone conclusions · sure things · guarantees · regularities
accidentsblessings
Favors from the divine
miracles · strokes of luck · windfalls · good fortune · serendipity
- by accidentWithout intent or planning
- car accidentCollision involving automobiles
- have an accidentSuffer unintended harm
- traffic accidentCollision between vehicles
- freak accidentRare, unpredictable calamity
- happy accidentUnintended but beneficial event
accident, accidental, accidentally, nonaccidental, accident-prone