coincidental
/kou,insi'dentl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Happening by chance, without deliberate planning or causation: Describes events or circumstances that occur together in a surprising or remarkable way, but are not connected by a causal relationship.
- Occurring at the same time or place by accident: Refers to the simultaneous or concurrent existence of events that is not planned or intended.
Usage
The word "coincidental" is used to describe a situation where two or more things happen at the same time or in a similar way purely by accident. It emphasizes the lack of a planned connection or a cause-and-effect relationship. It is often used to express surprise or to clarify that an apparent connection is merely accidental.
Examples
- It was purely coincidental that we both wore the same dress to the party.
- The coincidental meeting of the two old friends in a foreign city felt like fate, though it was just luck.
- Any similarity between the fictional characters and real persons is entirely coincidental.
Advanced Usage
- "coincidental with": Happening at the same time as something else by chance.
- His arrival was coincidental with the start of the storm.
- Used in formal or legal disclaimers to deny intentional similarity.
- The author states that any resemblance to actual events is coincidental.
Variants and Related Words
- Coincide (verb): To occur at the same time or to correspond in nature.
- Our vacations coincide this year.
- Coincidence (noun): A remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection.
- Running into you here is such a coincidence.
- Coincidently (adverb): In a coincidental manner; by coincidence.
- Coincidently, we had both chosen the same restaurant.
Synonyms
- Accidental: Happening by chance, not by design.
- Fortuitous: Happening by a lucky chance.
- Serendipitous: Occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
- Chance: Denoting something that happens without deliberate intent.
Antonyms
- Planned: Decided on or arranged in advance.
- Intentional: Done on purpose; deliberate.
- Causal: Relating to or acting as a cause.
- Inevitable: Certain to happen; unavoidable.
Idioms and Phrases
- A mere coincidence: Used to emphasize that something is only coincidental and not significant.
- Their similar ideas were a mere coincidence, not plagiarism.
- By coincidence: Happening because of a coincidence.
- By coincidence, we were both reading the same book.
Adjective
- occurring or operating at the same time
- a series of coincident events