UNREAL Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

unreal

adjective

ˌən-ˈrē(-ə)l

Definition of unreal

as in absurd

conceived or made without regard for reason or reality an unreal claim that is distant from the slightest hint of truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in imaginary

not real and existing only in the imagination the unreal world of TV sitcoms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unreal All the horrors — planes hitting towers out of a cloudless sky, all the rest — seemed somehow unreal. — Robert Stone, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 On the other hand, the fact that Warren is so annoying reminds us that unreal people can elicit genuine repulsion. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 And while lots of eras and trades are different and dependent on the market at the time, Shaq going for just one first-round pick, even at 31, still seems unreal. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 When the maple leaves turn red and temples or mountain areas are illuminated at night, the landscape feels almost unreal. — Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unreal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreal

Adjective

Alongside Kardashian, Watts, Nash-Betts and Paulson, the series stars Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka and Glenn Close, who all one-up each other with deliriously absurd lines of dialogue.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
The title comes from a phrase that became part of his creative vocabulary and began appearing in sketches whenever an absurd situation called for a perfectly incredulous response.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of absurd

Adjective

What matters most is being comfortably inside the path and away from the hard edges, not standing on an imaginary line drawn through its middle.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Each nutty denunciation of his imaginary tormentors includes a plea for a presidential pardon.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of imaginary

Adjective

But, pounded thin, breaded, and fried, served under lashings of sweet-sharp blackberry sauce, with a confetti of whole blackberries and leaves of mint, the lamb version was brilliant and bizarre, a symphony of strong-willed flavors.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
There was such a bizarre synergy between that film and being the same namesake as this doll.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of bizarre

Adjective

The Swiss manufacturer has just unveiled a new lineup of Seamaster Diver 300Ms inspired by James Bond and Spectre, the fictitious crime org seen in the 007 flicks.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2026
The Russian security service’s Meliorator tool has been used to create over a thousand profiles of fictitious Americans, primarily on X (formerly Twitter), to spread Kremlin narratives at a fraction of the cost of human troll farms.

— Seva Gunitsky, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of fictitious

Adjective

Soaking the suburbs over parking is reminiscent of other foolish, revenue-grabbing ideas, such as a congestion tax aimed at outsiders as a way to gin up money to cover Chicago’s ever-present budget black hole.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
With Oracle having lost more than $20 billion in stock-market value today, this appears to be penny-wise and pound foolish.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of foolish

Adjective

Set in a small fictional town called Awatahi, the show explores the murder of 17-year-old Jodie Hunter.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
People have since replaced the imp with fictional people like Sam and Dean Winchester and Wednesday Addams, public figures like Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and even mascots like Ronald McDonald.

— Angela Yang, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of fictional

Adjective

Jennifer De Angelo Baxter sculpted green snake heads and a headpiece out of foam, aluminum foil and cardboard to conjure the mythical Greek monster Medusa.

— Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
This coincidental trait inspired researchers to name the new genus Herugavialis after Heru, or Horus, the Egyptian god associated with the construction of the mythical creature.

— Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of mythical

Browse Nearby Words

unready

unreal

unrealistic

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“Unreal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreal. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unreal

adjective

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