accidentally pushed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accidentally pushed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an unintentional action where someone has pushed something or someone without meaning to do so. Example: "I accidentally pushed the wrong button on the remote control, changing the channel unexpectedly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

It was Kramer, not the terrorists, who (accidentally) pushed Leon Klinghoffer overboard.

The New Yorker

Hoping to see more, I accidentally pushed through a white curtain and ended up in Mr. Murray's tiny bedroom.

The New York Times - Travel

A forklift operator who was moving a metal trash bin on the hangar deck accidentally pushed the bin against a steel plate.

The New York Times

Unable to sense him, the robot's powerful hydraulic arm kept on working and accidentally pushed the engineer into a grinding machine.

The Economist

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina accidentally pushed the ball into his net to hand Arsenal a 1-1 tin in the teams' Premier League opener.

The New York Times

Even so, the police released a statement saying that he had hurt himself when he was accidentally pushed by the crowd.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

That's a real drag, because there's nowhere for your fingers to go without accidentally pushing a button on some surface.

The New York Times

The most intoxicatingly odd is called A Shot in the Dark, in which he plays a man who believes he may have killed the local vicar by accidentally pushing him into a pit of slime.

The Guardian - Film

What he meant I know it's piffle and bad economics but it sounds as if I want to help and it might accidentally push house prices up even higher, which London home owners may pretend to be horrified by but they'll keep voting for it.

Independent

World-beaters do not grow in a petri dish of low ambitions; with the wrong messages and incentives, you risk accidentally pushing your best people and companies towards excellence elsewhere, leaving stagnant mediocrity behind.

TechCrunch

The next day, Moses accidentally pushes an Egyptian guard off the scaffolding of the temple, while trying to stop him from whipping a Hebrew slave, and the guard falls to his death.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an unintentional action that resulted in someone or something being pushed, use "accidentally pushed" to clearly convey the lack of intent and avoid any implication of malice or deliberate action.

Common error

Avoid framing sentences using "accidentally pushed" in a way that obscures the actor or creates ambiguity. While passive voice can be useful, overuse can make the writing vague. Instead of "The button was accidentally pushed", specify who pushed the button: "He accidentally pushed the button".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accidentally pushed" functions as a verb phrase describing an action performed without intention. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Examples show its usage in describing a range of unintended actions, from nudging someone to causing accidents.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

24%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accidentally pushed" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe an action performed without intention. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Analysis of usage patterns reveals its prevalence in News & Media and Wiki contexts. When writing, it's best to use the phrase to clearly convey the lack of intent, while avoiding overuse of the passive voice. Consider using alternatives like "inadvertently shoved" or "unintentionally bumped" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inadvertently shoved

Replaces "pushed" with a more formal synonym, "shoved", and "accidentally" with "inadvertently", indicating a lack of intention.

unintentionally bumped

Replaces "pushed" with "bumped", suggesting a lighter contact, and "accidentally" with "unintentionally".

mistakenly propelled

Uses "propelled" to emphasize the movement caused by the push, highlighting the error in action.

negligently nudged

"Nudged" implies a gentle push, while "negligently" suggests carelessness.

involuntarily displaced

Focuses on the result of the push (displacement) and indicates it was not a deliberate action.

erroneously thrusted

"Thrusted" gives a stronger sense of force, with "erroneously" indicating it was a mistake.

impulsively impelled

"Impelled" suggests a sudden force, and "impulsively" indicates it was done without forethought.

unwittingly jostled

"Jostled" suggests a bumping motion in a crowd, and "unwittingly" emphasizes the lack of awareness.

casually knocked

"Knocked" implies a quick impact, "casually" suggests a relaxed or unintentional manner.

incidentally contacted

Focuses on the contact aspect, suggesting it was a minor and unintended occurrence.

FAQs

What does "accidentally pushed" mean?

The phrase "accidentally pushed" means that someone applied force to something or someone, causing it to move, without intending to do so.

What are some synonyms for "accidentally pushed"?

Alternatives include "inadvertently shoved", "unintentionally bumped", or "mistakenly propelled", depending on the context.

How can I use "accidentally pushed" in a sentence?

For example, you could say: "I accidentally pushed the glass off the table" or "He accidentally pushed the wrong button on the elevator."

Is it better to say "accidentally pushed" or "unintentionally pushed"?

Both phrases are correct and convey a similar meaning. "Accidentally pushed" is more common in everyday language, while "unintentionally pushed" might be used in more formal contexts.