1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
an unreal claim that is distant from the slightest hint of truth
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2
as in mythic
not real and existing only in the imagination
the unreal world of TV sitcoms
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Recent Examples of unreal
Both reflect national beliefs: in competition, however unreal, and in the assignment of blame, however misplaced.
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Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The camera flash is bouncing off a large mirror above them, giving an aura—an electric saintliness—to figures who seem to float somewhere between the real and the unreal.
—Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024
The question of which of them represents the real and which of them represents the unreal — which of them is the model village and which is the real thing — is one the movie never bothers to answer.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 6 Sep. 2024
All the can't-miss looks on your favorite stars at this week's most major events, from vintage finds to on-trend runway pieces
Comments
This week's red carpet events are bringing unreal fashion.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unreal 
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
The camera flash is bouncing off a large mirror above them, giving an aura—an electric saintliness—to figures who seem to float somewhere between the real and the unreal.
—Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024
The question of which of them represents the real and which of them represents the unreal — which of them is the model village and which is the real thing — is one the movie never bothers to answer.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 6 Sep. 2024
All the can't-miss looks on your favorite stars at this week's most major events, from vintage finds to on-trend runway pieces
Comments
This week's red carpet events are bringing unreal fashion.
—Michelle Lee, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unreal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreal
Adjective
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This absurd claim is an extension of their relentless obsession to remove checks and balances within our government.Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
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The three books so far are deeply romantic, gorgeously tragic, smart as hell, and written in this absurd baroque, irreverent language.Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Physicists debated for decades (opens a new tab) whether this bizarre superfluid-solid hybrid could exist.Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
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When her favorite author from childhood reemerges with a new book and a chance to win the only existing copy, Lucy sets out to win this bizarre competition filled with riddles and games.The Courier-Journal, The Courier-Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Everyone read a fictitious story about a school that was running out of water because its local aquifer was drying up.Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024
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To Kaplan, the onscreen romantic chemistry between the two fictitious lead characters, rival booksellers Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly, drew her attention.David Chiu, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The authors concluded that any attempt to create a synthetic substance to replace the mud — something Major League Baseball has explored — would be foolish.Evan Bush, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
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To end its losing tradition, Colorado has to stop making foolish choices with its payroll.Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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And the exasperation goes from imaginary frustration to real annoyance.Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024
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And through her mesmerizing filmmaking, Kapadia creates a world that didn’t seem possible — which, of course, reinforces how imaginary this new place might prove to be.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Your voice is insane.Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com, al, 4 Apr. 2023
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But obviously winning the grand jury prize was insane.Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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Jones says that mythical golden age was mainly for white Christians who did not have to share the wealth, culture and political power with people of color.Russell Contreras, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024
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Alebrijes: Even the dead need a spiritual guide Pedro Linares, an artist in Mexico City, introduced the celebration to colorful, mythical creatures known as Alebrijes in 1936.Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Set in the fictional town of Salem, Illionois, Days of Our Lives follows the lives of several families including the Bradys, the Hortons, the Carvers, the DiMeras and the Kiriakises.Marc Berman, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
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Plus, this isn't that much of a political fantasy: There's no way both the president and the vice president could be women, even in this fictional world.Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near unreal
Cite this Entry
“Unreal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreal. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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