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Synonyms

unintentionally

American  
[uhn-in-ten-shuh-nl-ee] / ˌʌn ɪnˈtɛn ʃə nl i /

adverb

  1. not deliberately or on purpose.

    Properly restricting file sharing will help the user avoid unintentionally granting access to unknown parties.

Etymology

Origin of unintentionally

unintentional ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Others have struggled to make their needs understood, or found that the encounter unfolded in a way that unintentionally caused further harm.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

The findings revealed how a liver that cannot properly handle metabolic waste can unintentionally create conditions that support cancer development.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2026

Stephen Colletti innocently slicing turkey and unintentionally sparking one of the most wild crashouts in “Traitors” history.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

“When you intentionally or unintentionally step away from household finances, you don’t realize right away that you’re losing agency and options, but over time you start to feel it,” Heather says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

It is best if I just stop talking completely so I won’t unintentionally disclose information about our family.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.