“Unlikely coincidence” refers to a situation where two or more events happen to occur together in a way that seems improbable. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
1. Improbable concurrence
- Meaning: “Improbable” means not likely to happen or be true. “Concurrence” refers to the fact of two or more events happening at the same time. So, an “improbable concurrence” emphasizes the unlikelihood of multiple events coinciding. It's a more formal way of expressing the idea that the combination of events is not something one would expect to occur. For example, running into your long - lost childhood friend in a foreign country on the same day you were thinking about them is an improbable concurrence.
- Example: “The improbability of such a concurrence made everyone suspect that there was more to the story than just a chance encounter.”
2. Rare conjunction
- Meaning: “Rare” means not occurring very often. “Conjunction” also implies a coming together of things or events. A “rare conjunction” highlights that the combination of events is an unusual one. It gives the sense that the events don't typically happen together and that their simultaneous occurrence is a notable exception. For example, a solar eclipse happening on the same day as a major religious festival in a particular region is a rare conjunction.
- Example: “The rare conjunction of a meteor shower and a clear night sky provided a perfect opportunity for stargazers.”
3. Unforeseen simultaneity
- Meaning: “Unforeseen” means not predicted or anticipated. “Simultaneity” refers to the state of things happening at the same time. An “unforeseen simultaneity” emphasizes that the concurrent events were not expected to occur together. It implies a sense of surprise when the events happen at the same moment. For example, the unforeseen simultaneity of a power outage and a major computer system update could cause chaos in an office.
- Example: “The unforeseen simultaneity of the two accidents on the highway led to a massive traffic jam.”
4. Coincidental improbability
- Meaning: This term combines the idea of a coincidence (a chance occurrence) with improbability. It emphasizes that the coincidence itself is something that is not likely to happen. It's a way of highlighting the low probability of the events lining up in the way they did. For example, winning the lottery on the same day you get a job offer from your dream company is a coincidental improbability.
- Example: “The coincidental improbability of finding a valuable antique at a garage sale just when you were researching that particular era's artifacts was astonishing.”