Definition of unforeseennext
as in sudden
not expected there are almost always unforeseen consequences for any major endeavor unforeseen problems delayed the project beyond its deadline

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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 unforeseen Trial runs were executed to ensure nothing unforeseen would happen. — Mark Rice-Oxley, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026 Can this connection roll with an unforeseen professional development that’s unfolding? — Usa Today, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Butler said that, barring any unforeseen issues, the agency will own the house within the next two months. — Noah Daly august 27, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026 And there is a reasonable likelihood that two of them will end up playing each other on Arthur Ashe either for history, or for the chance to make it, which will lead to unforeseen levels of patriotic tension. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unforeseen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unforeseen
Adjective
  • There’s a fascinating synchronicity between the current real-world anxiety and the film industry’s sudden interest in dense studies of the tech world’s dark underbelly.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Other symptoms include sudden high fever and chills, headaches, and pain in the abdomen, legs and arms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

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

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