freak accident
One-in-a-million disaster
A freak accident is an unusual mishap that couldn't reasonably have been anticipated or prevented—the kind of rare, unlucky event that makes people shake their heads: He died in a freak accident when a tree branch fell on his car.
The phrase emphasizes that no one is to blame; circumstances simply aligned in an improbable way.
- contretempsEmbarrassing minor conflict
- one in a millionExtraordinarily rare or special
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- mischanceUnlucky occurrence
- mishapMinor unfortunate occurrence
unexpected · unforeseen · casualty · fluke · improbability · random chance · anomaly · unpredictable · malfunction · randomness · act of God · coincidence · workplace · quirk of fate · fear · disbelief · destruction · split second
- accidentsmishap, collision, car crash, motorcycle crash, fumble
- origin storiesalien planet, mutation, tragic backstory, gamma radiation, lightning strike
- surprisessurprise party, unexpected gift, plot twist, unexpected event, unexpected success
- rare phenomenaanomaly, rarity, oddity, phenomenon, aberration
freak accidentnegligence
Failure to exercise care
gross negligence · reckless endangerment · carelessness · malpractice · dereliction of duty
freak accidentintentional harm
Deliberately caused damage
murder · sabotage · arson · assassination · foul play
freak, accident, freaks, freaked, freaking, freakish, freaky, accidents, accidental