Definitions

incidental

[in-si-den-tl] / ˌɪn sɪˈdɛn tl /

ADJECTIVE

related; minor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accidental ancillary casual coincidental random secondary

STRONG

attendant chance concomitant contingent fluke irregular nonessential subordinate subsidiary

WEAK

accompanying adventitious by-the-way circumstantial concurrent contributing contributory fortuitous occasional odd

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decided deliberate designed planned premeditated

STRONG

chief important necessary

WEAK

basic essential fundamental vital

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The idea was that "this family's life and their happiness is fully built on Max Cady's suffering. He's not an incidental, forgotten figure in their past," Antosca said.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

The timing of all this is not incidental.

From Salon • May 11, 2026

Alongside that, she has come to embody something quieter: an understated ease that makes even high fashion seem incidental.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

Another limitation is having an incidental finding, such as a lung nodule.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

I know I should spend it getting to know Adam Cassidy, but he seems incidental to me right now.

From "Every Day" by David Levithan

Vocabulary lists containing incidental

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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"Bonne Annee," Vocabulary from the personal essay

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Siddhartha

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