inadvertence

noun

Definition of inadvertencenext
as in carelessness

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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 inadvertence As for inventions, accident and inadvertence played a role in the development of Post-it Notes and microwave heating. — Amanda Foreman, WSJ, 4 May 2018 The history of the game proceeded through intelligence, but also through inadvertence. — Jay Caspian Kang, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inadvertence
  1. carelessness
  2. inadvertency
  3. heedlessness
  4. laxity
Noun
  • Her behavior shows a carelessness about money, the kind of real money that could send a person to college.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But that drop in intensity quickly veered into carelessness, with the defence failing to assert its composure amid loose passes and hapless communication mix-ups.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of carelessness
Noun
  • Again, what is lost is inadvertency and the element of surprise — the sense that the power of the image is independent of the photographer’s plans.
    — TEJU COLE, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2016
Definition of inadvertency
Noun
  • Holden’s moral rigor is refreshing in a cultural moment marked by an unsettling mix of cynicism and heedlessness.
    — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • The heedlessness of the children has touched her mood.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Definition of heedlessness
Noun
  • Patients whose jaw shape is not driven by muscle bulk, or those with meaningful skin laxity, may see jowling worsen as the muscle shrinks.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026
  • People whose jaw shape is driven by bone, or who already have noticeable skin laxity, usually are not strong matches.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of laxity

Browse Nearby Words

in advance of
inadvertence
inadvertency
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Cite this Entry

“Inadvertence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inadvertence. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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