coincidence
Unplanned simultaneous occurrence
A coincidence is the occurrence of events that seem meaningfully connected but happen by chance.
Two old friends booking the same flight without coordinating is a coincidence.
The word often carries a sense of improbability or wonder: What a coincidence that we both wore the same dress!
In more neutral usage, coincidence simply means things happening at the same time or place: a coincidence of interests.
Chance affecting outcomes
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- happenstanceUnplanned circumstance
- fortuityAccidental lucky occurrence
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
odds · probability · likelihood · haphazard · fortuitous · casual · unplanned · unintentional
Art of choosing moments
- simultaneityState of coexisting temporally
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
- parallelEquidistant at all points
- correspondenceExchanged written communication
juxtaposition · resonance · pattern · interconnection · meaningful · convergence · echo · mirror
Gathering for discussion
- crossing pathsEncountering by chance
- reunionGathering after separation
- strangerPerson not yet known
- connectionA joining or relation
running into · recognition · mutual friend · déjà vu · intersection · convergence
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
anomaly · quirk · oddity · shock · wonder · amazement · disbelief · improbable
Predetermined course of events
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- providenceDivine protective care
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- predestinationDivinely predetermined fate
foreordained · inevitability · meant to be · written · stars aligned · divine · omen · sign
Act of finding something
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
- boonHelpful benefit received
- fortunateEnjoying favorable circumstances
providential · auspicious · beneficial · favorable · stroke of luck · pleasant surprise · breakthrough · opportunity
luck
Chance affecting outcomes
- flukeChance stroke of luck
- happenstanceUnplanned circumstance
- fortuityAccidental lucky occurrence
randomness · odds · probability · likelihood · haphazard · fortuitous · casual · unplanned · unintentional · arbitrary
timing
Art of choosing moments
- simultaneityState of coexisting temporally
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
- parallelEquidistant at all points
correspondence · juxtaposition · resonance · pattern · interconnection · meaningful · convergence · echo · mirror · harmony
meeting
Gathering for discussion
- crossing pathsEncountering by chance
- reunionGathering after separation
- strangerPerson not yet known
running into · connection · recognition · mutual friend · déjà vu · intersection · convergence
surprise
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
startling · anomaly · quirk · oddity · shock · wonder · amazement · disbelief · improbable · remarkable
destiny
Predetermined course of events
- kismetPreordained future outcome
- providenceDivine protective care
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
predestination · foreordained · inevitability · meant to be · written · stars aligned · divine · omen · sign · portent
discovery
Act of finding something
fortunate · providential · auspicious · beneficial · favorable · stroke of luck · pleasant surprise · breakthrough · opportunity · good fortune
- encountersencounter, meeting, chance encounter, run-in, close encounter
- fate and chancefate, luck, destiny, fortune, randomness
- fortunelucky, luck, fortune, fate, destiny
- writing flawstypos, spelling errors, plot hole, plot holes, cliche
- chancechance, luck, lottery, dice, randomness
- coincidenceshappenstance, fluke, serendipity, synchronicity, twist of fate
coincidenceasynchrony
Lack of temporal coordination
asynchronism · staggering · desynchronization · disjunction · offset
coincidencedivergence
Separation from common origin
mismatch · disagreement · discrepancy · difference · deviation