1
as in ridiculous
not likely to occur in the real world
The movie's unrealistic dialogue kept distracting me from the story.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unreasonable
based on what is wanted or hoped for rather than on what is possible or likely
He had unrealistic expectations about the type of apartment he could afford on his meager salary. The valuation placed on this company is completely unrealistic.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of unrealistic
Sometimes, that’s unrealistic, but no MVP quarterback’s team has had worse than an 11-5 record from a win percentage standpoint.
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Mike Sando, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
January can be an excellent opportunity to reset, but many fitness resolutions — like sculpting a six-pack or losing a lot of weight — can be unrealistic or unsustainable.
—Anna Maltby, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
The problem may have been that the company set unrealistic goals and timelines.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2024
This entitlement, characterized by unrealistic expectations for instant success and recognition, has led to a shift in work attitudes and behaviors, presenting challenges for business leaders.
—Nilesh Parmar, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unrealistic 
Mike Sando, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
January can be an excellent opportunity to reset, but many fitness resolutions — like sculpting a six-pack or losing a lot of weight — can be unrealistic or unsustainable.
—Anna Maltby, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
The problem may have been that the company set unrealistic goals and timelines.
—IEEE Spectrum, 27 Dec. 2024
This entitlement, characterized by unrealistic expectations for instant success and recognition, has led to a shift in work attitudes and behaviors, presenting challenges for business leaders.
—Nilesh Parmar, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unrealistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unrealistic
Adjective
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And that contract is ridiculous relative to his value.Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
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Hackett and Sales are an absolutely ridiculous guest cast and pairing, providing humorous intimidation and a hilarious runner in their recognition of Sam at the bar (Sam!).Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In business, Dolan was formidable but never unreasonable.Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 31 Dec. 2024
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The excellence and the longevity are unreasonable to match or even approach.Zach Harper, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Experts, including Mike Fried, CEO of The Diamond Pro, previously noted to the outlet that the ring has incredible value.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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If these dangers can be managed, the potential of quantum computing to accelerate human progress and build a better future could be incredible.Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As far back as JFK, U.S. officials have been trapped in this irrational family feud that empowers hardliners in both governments while holding citizens here and there hostage to a bureaucratic status quo.Lissa Weinmann, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2025
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Scottie Scheffler remains the best golfer, but the honeymoon ends: People are going to start getting irrational.Brody Miller, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The characterizations are absurd in both concept and performance.Armond White, National Review, 3 Jan. 2025
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We’re told the feature will delve deeper into themes of identity, technology, and self-perception while retaining the darkly comedic and absurd tone that defined the short.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For instance, unused network segments can be powered down temporarily to save energy, a task that would be impractical to manage manually across thousands of network sites.Robert Backhouse, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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Experts dismiss an analogous design for the U.S. as impractical—Israel's defenses are vastly different to the U.S. for several reasons, not least the size of the country and who is doing the targeting.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But beware: There’s a difference between artificial tears and other products only meant to reduce redness.Jackie Snow, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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Moreover, the concept of artificial gravity, achieved through rotational forces, has been a topic of research for decades.William Mullane, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In a follow-up post, Spears shared a cute video of a young girl telling silly jokes.Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 4 Jan. 2025
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The silly yet snappy song propelled Mr. Vail, 27, to a new level of internet fame almost overnight.Alyson Krueger, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unrealistic
Cite this Entry
“Unrealistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unrealistic. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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