inadvertent

[in-uhd-vur-tnt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inadvertent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

unintentional: an inadvertent insult.

not attentive; heedless.

of, relating to, or characterized by lack of attention.

Nearby words

Origin of inadvertent

1645–55; abstracted from inadvertence, inadvertency; see -ent

SYNONYMS FOR inadvertent

2. inattentive. 3. thoughtless, careless, negligent.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inadvertent ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsin·ad·vert·ent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inadvertently

Minutes into the rerelease of Grand Theft Auto V, I inadvertently stomped a cat to death.
I Felt Like Showering After the First-Person Sex in ‘Grand Theft Auto’|Alec Kubas-Meyer|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Katniss walks through mountains of skeletons, at one point recoiling in horror as she inadvertently steps on a skull.
'Mockingjay—Part 1’ Is the Most Violent ‘Hunger Games’ Yet|Kevin Fallon|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But she had no way to know for sure until August, when a legal filing was inadvertently made public by a federal court.
The Secret Money Buying Wisconsin’s Laws|ProPublica|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Outed by a fellow Duke student, Knox inadvertently became a pronounced public figure when she spoke up for herself.
Porn Keeps Up with the Kardashians: Belle Knox on the Mainstreaming of Adult Stars|Aurora Snow|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Big Boy's radio show: it's all fun and games until you inadvertently reveal to your wife that you slept with Kim Kardashian.
Nick Cannon’s Not a Gigolo, But He Had Sex with Kim Kardashian|Amy Zimmerman|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fortunately Mark heard not the last few words, which rather fell from Travers inadvertently, and were uttered in a low voice.
The O'Donoghue|Charles James Lever
It was in the same winter that I inadvertently touched an iron railing with my bare hand, and skin and metal stuck together.
The Retrospect|Ada Cambridge
It might preserve me from inadvertently publishing something which might rather weaken the cause we have both at heart.
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 2, 1917|Various
Prompted by maternal affection, she inadvertently accosted him, and began to inquire after the welfare of her child.
The Lady of the Lake|Sir Walter Scott
In line 3, 1646 and 1670 'meet' is inadvertently substituted for 'creep.'
The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume I (of 2)|Richard Crashaw

British Dictionary definitions for inadvertently

inadvertent

adjective

failing to act carefully or considerately; inattentive

resulting from heedless action; unintentional

Derived Formsinadvertently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for inadvertently

inadvertently

adv.

1670s, literally "inattentively," hence "unintentionally;" see inadvertent + -ly (2).

inadvertent

adj.

1650s, back-formation from inadvertence.

inadvertent

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of inadvertent

Examples from the Web for inadvertently

inadvertent

adjective

inadvertently

inadvertent