INADVERTENTLY Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

inadvertently

adverb

as in accidentally

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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 inadvertently Knowing a bailout is coming, however, may inadvertently encourage farmers to sustain their dependence on the risky Chinese export market. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 Don't Accidentally Reward Complexity Organizations can inadvertently reward complexity because complexity is easier to see than good thinking. — Mustafa Shreet, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 As this field has grown over the last five years, however, some drug developers have found that their experimental therapies inadvertently affect patients’ kidneys, liver, or bone marrow. — Allison Deangelis, STAT, 31 Aug. 2026 The city had previously — and seemingly inadvertently — tried to shut down the apartment complex in response to code violations by former landlord Yisroel Levovitz. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 But in a case of life imitating art, the show’s entire publicity strategy was inadvertently wrecked by a real-life aristocrat, after reports leaked that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was being eyed for a role in the series. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026 The state feared testimony from Anthony or his mother could inadvertently open the door to character evidence, Wirskye said. — Greg Wehner , Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026 In this nail-biter from Brian De Palma, John Travolta stars as an audio engineer who records a car crash and inadvertently discovers a political scandal. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 The beetles emerge in the summer to feed, mate and crash inadvertently into unsuspecting bystanders. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadvertently

Adverb

On December 18th, an agent accidentally discharged his gun in a hotel room, hitting the headboard of a bed in the room next door.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
The Young Bucks went for a BTE Trigger, but Cope accidentally speared Cage while trying to break it up.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of accidentally

Adverb

Geisinger isn’t the only hospital where young patients have unwittingly been exposed.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
The homeowner, Brett Bymaster, lauded officers for ending the chaotic situation swiftly and without any harm to his adult children, son-in-law, and young grandchildren who were unwittingly ensnared in the encounter.

— Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of unwittingly

Adverb

Likewise, a professional who identifies strongly with a particular school of thought — in economics, medicine, management, or technology — will tend to unconsciously favor sources that reinforce that framework and discount those that challenge it.

— Big Think, Big Think, 21 Aug. 2026
But in reality, of course, this is just happening almost unconsciously.

— Jinae West, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of unconsciously

Adverb

The earnings announcement was fortuitously timed, coming just as reports were surfacing of high-level OpenAI employees joining the company.

— Jordan Novet, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
And fortuitously, Napalm Death, who played a 19-minute set, espouse the same lefty politics as NPR, in fact maybe even a little more leftist, all things considered, since Barney Greenway wore a Crass T-shirt to the gig.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026

Definition of fortuitously

Adverb

Omar Alderete, O’Nien’s second-half replacement, carelessly did the same thing for the late winner.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Since it was designated the first national recreation area in 1964, hordes of visitors have cut Lake Mead’s glassy surface with jet skis and boats, carelessly dropping belongings that may now wash up on shore.

— Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of carelessly

Browse Nearby Words

inadvertent

inadvertently

inadvisability

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“Inadvertently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadvertently. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of inadvertently

adverb

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