unreal

adjective

un·​re·​al ˌən-ˈrē(-ə)l 

: lacking in reality, substance, or genuineness : artificial, illusory

also : incredible, fantastic

Synonyms

• absurd
• bizarre
• crazy
• fanciful
• fantastic
• fantastical
• foolish
• insane
• nonsensical
• preposterous
• wild

Examples of unreal in a Sentence

The town seemed as unreal as a movie set.

The fashion model looked unreal, like a doll.

I think it's unreal that he survived the accident.

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s got an immersive screen that makes games look unreal, and the OLED panel blows everything else out of the water with its colors and contrast. —Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 11 Feb. 2025

Rather than the typical market outlook, fraught with all the dangers of being a soothsayer, this outlook will endeavor to take a journey like Lewis Carroll’s Alice to find some reality in markets that can sometimes seem unreal or irrational. —Bill Stone, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

Flight attendant Kelly Duncan, the only crew member on board who survived, told ABC News in 1982 that the crash seemed unreal. —Megan Forrester, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2025

With those circumstances, he’s still looked unreal. —Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

unreal

adjective

un·​re·​al ˌən-ˈrē(-ə)l 

-ˈri(-ə)l,

ˈən-

1

: not real, actual, or genuine : illusory

2

: fantastic sense 2