intentional

/ɪnˈtɛnʃənəl/

Say it: in-TEN-shuh-nul

adjective Done with purpose and on purpose; not accidental.
The coach argued that the trip was an intentional foul, not just clumsy play.

📖 Seen in the wild

The artist's use of muted colors was an intentional choice to evoke a sense of melancholy.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ intentional in a sentence

The prosecutor argued the damage to the property was intentional, not a result of negligence.
Was that an intentional slight, or did you just forget to invite me?
Our team made an intentional choice to focus on quality over quantity for this quarter's release.
Her every movement seemed intentional, designed to capture the attention of the room.
The new design features a minimalist aesthetic, an intentional decision to reduce visual clutter.
Psychologists study the difference between intentional and automatic cognitive processes.
An intentional act of kindness can completely change someone's day.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

deliberate conscious willful purposeful premeditated calculated voluntary witting

deliberate · implies careful thought and weighing of consequences before acting.

conscious · emphasizes awareness of one's actions and their implications.

willful · often carries a negative connotation of stubbornness or disregard for rules.

purposeful · highlights having a specific goal or aim in mind.

Opposites: unintentional, accidental, inadvertent, unwitting, unplanned

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'intentional' traces back to the Latin verb 'intendere,' which means 'to stretch out' or 'to aim at.' This idea of aiming or directing one's mind toward a goal passed into English through Old French. The modern meaning preserves this core concept of having a specific aim or purpose behind an action.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

intentional actintentional foulintentional harmintentional decisionfully intentional

While 'intentional' and 'deliberate' are close synonyms, 'deliberate' suggests a greater degree of thought and consideration. An action can be intentional without being particularly well thought out, but a deliberate action is one that has been considered. 'Intentional' is frequently used in legal and ethical contexts to establish responsibility by distinguishing a purposeful act from an accident or mistake.

Word family: intention, intend, intentionally

💬 Quick answers

What does intentional mean?

It means something is done on purpose, not by accident. It describes an action that was planned or meant to happen.

What's the difference between intentional and deliberate?

Intentional means an act was done on purpose. Deliberate is stronger, implying the act was also done with careful thought and consideration of the consequences.

Is intentional a negative word?

Not necessarily. While it can describe negative actions like an 'intentional foul,' it can also describe positive ones, such as an 'intentional act of kindness.' The word itself is neutral.

What is the opposite of intentional?

The most common opposites are 'unintentional' and 'accidental,' both of which describe things that happen by chance or without a plan.

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