serendipitous

adjective

Definition of serendipitousnext
as in coincidental
happening because of good luck or chance After not seeing each other for ten years, we had a serendipitous reunion on the street one day.

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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 serendipitous That serendipitous 6th Grade homeroom assignment has given me everything. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Tommy Hilfiger himself pulls up in a taxicab — what a serendipitous coincidence! — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026 Guests—defined loosely as anyone from a random hookup to Julia Fox to a surprisingly chill raccoon—drop by the house with regularity, creating a zippy blend of the mundane and the serendipitous. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026 Her rapid journey into advocacy was sparked by a serendipitous encounter with Association representatives at a corporate event, shortly before tragically losing her mother to the disease last November. — Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serendipitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serendipitous
  1. coincidental
  2. accidental
  3. unexpected
  4. convenient
  5. timely
  6. happy
  7. opportune
  8. unforeseen
Adjective
  • Now, with this curious surge of coincidental timing, the film industry is returning the favor.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The show has been in the works for over a year, so any connections to The Garage’s closure were coincidental but pertinent to everyone in the library.
    — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of coincidental
Adjective
  • Healthcare workers will often wear personal protective equipment, such as an N95 mask, or even a full body suit in case of accidental exposure.
    — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
  • His death at 33 was ruled accidental, but rumors persist drugs played a role.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • Stubborn inflation, blowback from White House trade policies, and a formidable Democratic challenger in megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton have combined to turn ruby-red Kansas into an unexpected Senate battleground.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Mandatory statewide caps on property taxes would tie the hands of local governments to deal with the rapid growth and address unexpected emergencies.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of unexpected
Adjective
  • This is a boutique hotel with large, comfortable rooms, a top-notch stone pool, and a convenient location in the heart of Vail Village.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The 4-in-1 Adjustable Car Charger features USB-C and USB-A ports plus 36-inch retractable USB-C and Lightning cables for convenient, clutter-free charging.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of convenient
Adjective
  • Miami’s defense had some timely stops throughout the game, yet the offense was unable to reciprocate.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Letting employees make mistakes and take ownership of success is critical to enabling timely decisions, especially in front of customers.
    — Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of timely
Adjective
  • Macaronis are happy in warmer water and have a more varied diet, so are not as reliant on the diminishing krill.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
  • And the retroactive nature of the proposal raises potential constitutional questions that some rich folks would be only too happy to test in court.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of happy
Adjective
  • Yet the way things transpired in the Chiefs' 30-27 win in Las Vegas on Sunday, the bye may have come at an opportune time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • That’s according to Respawn First, which noted that the system would rely on signals relayed by the game engine to choose opportune times to serve gamers in-game commercials.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of opportune
Adjective
  • Defenders of the emergency fees, which can be levied by HOA boards to address health and safety hazards or unforeseen expenses, say that long-standing infrastructure issues must be addressed, even if residents don’t like the price tag.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • With a concept that is like a twisted version of The Parent Trap, director Trudie Styler‘s sly comedy with drama shows what happens when the messy unforeseen circumstances of life and death interrupt a nasty divorce.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of unforeseen

Browse Nearby Words

serendipities
serendipitous
serendipity
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Cite this Entry

“Serendipitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serendipitous. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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