Unreal — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌən-ˈrē(-ə)l/ un·re·al

Meaning & Definition of Unreal

Unreal (adjective)

  1. lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness, artificial, illusory; also, incredible, fantastic

Unreal (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. conceived or made without regard for reason or reality

    "an unreal claim that is distant from the slightest hint of truth"

    similar: absurd, bizarre, crazy, fanciful, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous, wild, off the wall (slang)
    related: implausible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, extravagant, grotesque, bizarro, curious, eccentric, far-out, funny, kinky, kooky, odd, outlandish, out-of-the-way, outré, peculiar, quaint, queer, queerish, quirky, screwy, strange, wacky, way-out, weird, farcical, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, Alice-in-Wonderland, Kafkaesque, nightmarish, dreamlike, surreal
    opposite: realistic, reasonable

  2. not real and existing only in the imagination

    "the unreal world of TV sitcoms"

    similar: chimerical, fabulous, fanciful, fantasied, fantastic, fictional, fictitious, ideal, imaginal, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, mythical, notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, visionary
    related: fabled, legendary, romantic, abstract, hypothetical, theoretical, unbelievable, unconvincing, unlikely, conceived, envisaged, envisioned, pictured, visualized, daydreamlike, deceptive, delusional, delusive, hallucinatory, illusory, phantasmagoric, concocted, fabricated, feigned, fictive, inexistent, nonexistent
    opposite: actual, existent, existing, real
    near: authentic, genuine, true, factual, verifiable, verified, believable, convincing, realistic, corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial, palpable, tangible

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Unreal

The most common words with a similar meaning to Unreal:

Slang: off the wall
absurd, bizarre, crazy, fanciful, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous, wild, chimerical, fabulous, fantasied, fictional, fictitious, ideal, imaginal, imaginary, imagined, invented, made-up, make-believe, mythical, notional, phantasmal, phantasmic, phantom, pretend, visionary

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Unreal

Words with the opposite meaning of Unreal:

realistic, reasonable, actual, existent, existing, real

Related Words for Unreal

implausible, inconceivable, incredible, unbelievable, unimaginable, unthinkable, extravagant, grotesque, bizarro, curious, eccentric, far-out, funny, kinky, kooky, odd, outlandish, out-of-the-way, outré, peculiar, quaint, queer, queerish, quirky, screwy, strange, wacky, way-out, weird, farcical

Near Antonyms of Unreal

authentic, genuine, true, factual, verifiable, verified, believable, convincing, corporeal, material, physical, solid, substantial, palpable, tangible

Origin & Etymology of Unreal

First known use: 1605

Frequently Asked Questions about Unreal

What does "Unreal" mean?

"Unreal" means lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness, artificial, illusory; also, incredible, fantastic. As an adjective, it is defined as: lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness, artificial, illusory; also, incredible, fantastic. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Unreal"?

Other words for "Unreal" include absurd, bizarre, crazy, fanciful, fantastic, foolish, insane and nonsensical. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Unreal" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Unreal"?

There are 94 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Unreal". Common alternatives include absurd, bizarre, crazy, fanciful, fantastic, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous and wild.

What is the opposite of "Unreal"?

Antonyms of "Unreal" include realistic, reasonable, actual, existent, existing and real. Near antonyms include authentic, genuine, true and factual.

How do you use "Unreal" in a sentence?

Examples of "Unreal" in a sentence: "an unreal claim that is distant from the slightest hint of truth"; "the unreal world of TV sitcoms".

Is "Unreal" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Unreal" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Unreal"?

"Unreal" is pronounced /ˌən-ˈrē(-ə)l/ and divided into syllables as un·re·al.

What is the origin of the word "Unreal"?

First known use: 1605.