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as in informal
not designed to be worn only on special occasions a restaurant where people in casual clothes are always welcome

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective casual differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of casual are accidental, contingent, and fortuitous. While all these words mean "not amenable to planning or prediction," casual stresses lack of real or apparent premeditation or intent.

a casual encounter with a stranger

When might accidental be a better fit than casual?

The synonyms accidental and casual are sometimes interchangeable, but accidental stresses chance.

any resemblance to actual persons is entirely accidental

In what contexts can contingent take the place of casual?

While in some cases nearly identical to casual, contingent suggests possibility of happening but stresses uncertainty and dependence on other future events for existence or occurrence.

the contingent effects of the proposed law

When is it sensible to use fortuitous instead of casual?

Although the words fortuitous and casual have much in common, fortuitous so strongly suggests chance that it often connotes entire absence of cause.

a series of fortuitous events

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of casual Kristen Stewart One of Cannes’s more risk-taking dressers, Stewart leaned into edgy Chanel looks that were equal parts dressy and casual. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 25 May 2025 The sleek sneaker was initially designed for F1 drivers back in 1999, but has since been released as a popular casual style. Mikelle Street, Footwear News, 25 May 2025 Choose a casual public setting — not one of your homes. Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025 So, keep initiating the catch-ups, accepting invites for casual hangs, attending those after-work dinners and chatting with acquaintances at events. Seraphina Seow, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for casual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for casual
Adjective
  • Though there was no official vote, an informal vote revealed the teams were split 16-16 on the matter, according to an individual in the room during deliberations.
    Tess DeMeyer, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Employees who join a startup often thrive in fast-moving, informal environments, so when the company begins to scale, there’s often a fear of losing that agility.
    Lyuba Brouillard, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • The coroner found that no foul play was involved, and that his death was accidental.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
  • The accidental shooting unfolded on Wednesday inside an apartment in northeast D.C., located on 1700 block of Benning Road.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Throughout the book, ogling bystanders, nonchalant locals, and wannabes shooting their shot at stardom all add to the surrealist spectacle.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 May 2025
  • Over the seasons, Tamburini has been offering sleek and sophisticated designs, yet with a modern touch, fluid shapes and a sort of nonchalant attitude.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, those days are more sporadic and like Hernandez, resembles little to the player who dragged Milan over the line three years ago to steal an unlikely league title.
    Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • Those moments have grown more sporadic in recent months, with Watkins no longer looked to as Villa’s key source of goals.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and policy bill that would change Americans' everyday lives has cleared one big hurdle after several marathon days of negotiations in the U.S. House and an assist from the president himself.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Come nighttime, its bars come alive with hip young locals having a good time, making this a great spot to spend an evening basking in everyday local life.
    Jennifer Fernández Solano, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • The audience is present in a politely distant but receptive way with shots from the back of their heads and an occasional darkened full-theater shot.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 23 May 2025
  • Others that have a small selling history and only a handful of items for sale at a time tend to be occasional sellers and wardrobe clearers.
    Benjamin Voyer, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • As guests hurried into the building to escape the sudden downpour — with a few leaving early, uncertain about how the rest of the day would unfold — Ashley had to think on her feet.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • This would create an inherent instability in the market in the event of sudden price movements or unexpected macroeconomic news.
    George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • Residents lack running water, use 5-gallon buckets as toilets and must contend with intermittent electricity and deteriorating homes that expose them to the region’s fierce weather.
    Emily Schwing, ProPublica, 29 May 2025
  • The issues appeared to be largely resolved by around 10 a.m., but some users experienced intermittent issues with the platform until about 11 a.m.
    Erin Doherty, CNBC, 24 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Casual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/casual. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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