unintentional
Done without meaning
Unintentional describes something done without meaning to do it—an accident rather than a deliberate act.
An unintentional insult wasn't meant to offend.
An unintentional omission was an oversight, not a cover-up.
The word often appears in legal and formal contexts to distinguish careless acts from purposeful ones: The shooting was ruled unintentional.
Done without intention
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
coincidental · fortuitous · serendipitous · unforeseeable · unpredictable · random · unmeant · undesigned
Wrong action or decision
- slipMinor error or misstep
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- misstepError in action or judgment
gaffe · faux pas · lapse · miscalculation · omission · flub · goof · bungle
Involuntary stimulus response
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- automaticOperating without intervention
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- subconsciousBelow conscious awareness
uncontrolled · reactive · unwilled · unbidden · visceral · mechanical · innate · compulsive
inadvertent
Done without intention
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
chance · coincidental · fortuitous · serendipitous · unforeseeable · unpredictable · random · unmeant · undesigned · unpremeditated
mistake
Wrong action or decision
- slipMinor error or misstep
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
misstep · gaffe · faux pas · lapse · miscalculation · omission · flub · goof · bungle · botch
reflex
Involuntary stimulus response
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- automaticOperating without intervention
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
subconscious · uncontrolled · reactive · unwilled · unbidden · visceral · mechanical · innate · compulsive · impulsive
- accidentsaccident, car accident, bike accident, mishap, traffic accident
unintentionalintentional
Done on purpose
deliberate · intended · purposeful · willful · conscious
unintentionalpremeditated
Planned before acting
prepense · aforethought · predetermined · preplanned · foreordained
- unintentional harmInjury caused without intent