unintended
adjective
un·in·tend·ed
ˌən-in-ˈten-dəd 
: not planned as a purpose or goal : not deliberate or intended
an unintended consequence/effect
an unintended pregnancy
Synonyms
Examples of unintended in a Sentence
backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires
a response that yielded an unintended insight into her personal character
Recent Examples on the Web
After all, who hasn't experienced that awkward moment—waving back at someone who wasn't actually waving at us, or mistaking a stranger for a friend and giving an unintended wave?
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The unintended consequences — unintended, at least, by the voters — could be sweeping.
—The Editors, National Review, 4 Nov. 2024
With just days to go in a race that is the closest of tossups, the video of the ex-President pointlessly circling an empty airport runway in a trash hauler provided an almost irresistible, if unintended, metaphor for a campaign—and a country—stuck in an endless Trump loop.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
People may not realize how their actions or communication styles affect others, leading to unintended conflicts.
—Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unintended 
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.
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The unintended consequences — unintended, at least, by the voters — could be sweeping.
—The Editors, National Review, 4 Nov. 2024
With just days to go in a race that is the closest of tossups, the video of the ex-President pointlessly circling an empty airport runway in a trash hauler provided an almost irresistible, if unintended, metaphor for a campaign—and a country—stuck in an endless Trump loop.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
People may not realize how their actions or communication styles affect others, leading to unintended conflicts.
—Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unintended
Dictionary Entries Near unintended
Cite this Entry
“Unintended.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unintended. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share