Unexpected and Unintended

Unexpected

Unexpected adjective - Not expected.
Usage example: the failure of the backup generator was unexpected and a contingency for which we weren't prepared

Unintended and unexpected are semantically related in inadvertent topic. In some cases you can use "Unintended" instead an adjective "Unexpected", when it comes to topics like unanticipated.

Nearby Words: unexpectedly, unexpectedness

Unintended

Unintended adjective - Happening by chance.
Usage example: backyard digging that resulted in unintended damage to buried phone wires

Unexpected and unintended are semantically related in inadvertent topic. You can use "Unexpected" instead an adjective "Unintended", if it concerns topics such as unintentional, unanticipated.

Nearby Word: unintentional
Cite this Source
Unintended and Unexpected. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 27, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/unexpected/unintended
Unexpected & Unintended. N.p., 2016. Web. 27 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/unexpected/unintended>.
Unintended or Unexpected. 2016. Accessed July 27, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/unexpected/unintended.
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