1
as in accidental
happening by chance
an incidental meeting of two ships in the middle of the Atlantic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
lacking importance
we still have to work out a few incidental details, but the proposal is largely complete
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nonessential
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 incidental
Gene McCaffrey, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
Anyone finding themselves attracted to him was otherwise incidental.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Niccolo Serratt, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Dec. 2024
Touch points on the steering wheel manage volume, tuning, adaptive cruise setting and incidentals.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Adjective
Both seem incidental to his 47% Hard Hits for the past five years.
—Gene McCaffrey, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025
Anyone finding themselves attracted to him was otherwise incidental.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
These can last from three to eight weeks; Most major airlines will pay you a basic stipend during training (with the exception of American Airlines), but be sure to have some savings in the bank to cover incidentals.
—Niccolo Serratt, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Dec. 2024
Touch points on the steering wheel manage volume, tuning, adaptive cruise setting and incidentals.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incidental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incidental
Adjective
-
The coroner’s office ruled the deaths accidental due to blunt force trauma.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2025
-
In another show, with a lesser writer, such incongruities could be read as character inconsistencies, accidental oversights, mistakes.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Aftershocks are typically minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake.—
William B. Davis,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The incident, while ultimately only a minor one, did impact the rest of their vacation.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Hybrid solutions are currently typically used for small systems.—
ILYA Likhov,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Lee already had six permanent tattoos –– small ones easily hidden by clothing –– and thought this was a good opportunity to try out a more visible tattoo.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The bill mandates statewide standards for police lineups, including: The use of lineup fillers that match the eyewitness’s description.—
Michelle Mbekeani,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
When performed by a licensed professional, dermal fillers are considered to be one of the safest cosmetic treatments available.—
Sarah Bence, OTR/L,
Verywell Health,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Even with Hollywood’s diminished state in China, the film business is one sector where the U.S. maintains a sizable trade surplus with its geopolitical rival, as Chinese films, despite their enormous earnings in the home market, have made little headway with mainstream North American moviegoers.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
-
For starters, the clear formula comes in a cute little bottle that looks more like a serum than tanning drops.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In addition, that subsidiary operates over 35 locations through its Town & Country Industries division that specializes in pool and patio, hurricane and industrial building products.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Now, its spinoff subsidiary, Eve, is developing electric aircraft for the eVTOL segment.—
Daniel Cote,
Robb Report,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Good Night and Good Luck, starring George Clooney, was the highest grossing show on Broadway again last week, even as its grosses took a slight dip.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2025
-
International museums in 2024 collectively experienced a slight dip in attendance that marks a return to normalcy in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, the Art Newspaper reports.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Dozens of extras, dressed in purple and white, were seen participating in a scenes across several campus locations.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2025
-
An employee at the medical center, Rachel, who requested to be identified by only her first name for fear of retaliation, juggled three signs and a purple cowbell at the rally, handing out extras to people who walked by.—
Angela Palermo and,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incidental. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share