INCIDENT Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'incident' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of incident are circumstance , episode , event , and occurrence . While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance. // a minor wartime incident

Q: When would 'circumstance' be a good substitute for 'incident'?

In some situations, the words circumstance and incident are roughly equivalent. However, circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background. // couldn't recall the exact circumstances

Q: When can 'episode' be used instead of 'incident'?

The words episode and incident can be used in similar contexts, but episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident. // a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

Q: In what contexts can 'event' take the place of 'incident'?

While the synonyms event and incident are close in meaning, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause. // the events following the assassination

Q: When might 'occurrence' be a better fit than 'incident'?

While in some cases nearly identical to incident , occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan. // an encounter that was a chance occurrence

incident 1 of 2

noun

ˈin(t)-sə-dənt

Definition of incident

as in event

something that happens the odd little incident was reported in the local paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in accompaniment

something that is found along with something else a teen discovering that taxes are the inevitable and evil incident of a paying job

Synonyms & Similar Words

incident

2 of 2

adjective

as in accompanying

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word incident distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of incident are circumstance, episode, event, and occurrence. While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

When would circumstance be a good substitute for incident?

In some situations, the words circumstance and incident are roughly equivalent. However, circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

When can episode be used instead of incident?

The words episode and incident can be used in similar contexts, but episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

In what contexts can event take the place of incident?

While the synonyms event and incident are close in meaning, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

When might occurrence be a better fit than incident?

While in some cases nearly identical to incident, occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

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 incident

Noun

After the incident, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters including Nitro in Great Adventure in New Jersey, as a precaution. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 These incidents help explain why some residents are losing patience. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Veterinarians responded to the incident and the Equine Medical Director initiated a full post-incident review in keeping with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) Equine Fatality Reporting Requirements. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 15 May 2026 Requires schools to adopt an active assailant response plan, train faculty and staff to detect and respond to mental health issues, connect students with mental health services, and establish threat management teams and to establish post-incident reunification plans. — Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incident

Recent Examples of Synonyms for incident

Noun

The last includes those black-swan events that come out of left field and test a company’s resilience, from war to pandemics.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Last year, Kort helped launch an Eat the Invaders event, bringing chefs together to channel people’s appetite for delicious food by cooking with invasive and overabundant species.

— Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of event

Noun

Soundtracks often work in a similar way—music that’s been composed with the idea of accompaniment, melodies that are meant to join with a story already can work perfectly when one is in the midst of creating a character or scene.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Make little parcels with the fish and all the accompaniments to make a perfect bite.

— Emma Specter, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of accompaniment

Adjective

The accompanying campaign will include social media content from the Running Squad and additional activations continuing through race day.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
In a post on X, Burnham announced airlines will be required to seat children under 14 next to an accompanying adult without any additional charge.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of accompanying

Noun

And of course there's the throttle, which makes the whole thing even easier up to a limited top speed of 17 mph (27 km/h).

— Loz Blain October 26, New Atlas, 27 Oct. 2026
From a career-high 155 yards from Javonte Williams to the defense making just enough stops to allow the offense to do its thing, the Cowboys gained a little bit of their swagger back in the City of Brotherly Love.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of thing

Adjective

After the plague arrived in South Dakota in 2005, the acreage occupied by prairie dogs near Badlands National Park shrunk by three quarters within a decade, despite concomitant efforts to rein in the disease.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Part of what fascinated me about their presentation was not only their refusal to kowtow to male desire, which for decades had a stranglehold on rock aesthetics, but a concomitant disavowal of commercialism.

— Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Definition of concomitant

Noun

On the latest episode of the In Your Corner podcast, AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell said travelers who find flights within their budget should consider booking sooner rather than waiting for prices to fall.

— Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Nine senators from both parties have asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate the Starlink episode, while lawmakers across the aisle have condemned the speed restrictions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of episode

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incidence

incident

incidental

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Style

“Incident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incident. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of incident

noun

adjective

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Synonyms of incident

noun

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to incident

'Accidental' vs. 'Incidental'

Cite this Entry

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