UNREALISTIC Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

unrealistic

adjective

Definition of unrealistic

as in ridiculous

not likely to occur in the real world The movie's unrealistic dialogue kept distracting me from the story.

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Dissimilar Words

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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Dissimilar Words

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 unrealistic The number uses an unrealistic 2001 baseline that projected endless surpluses, as if the late-1990s revenue windfall would last forever. — Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026 Finding a single biomarker that reflects multiple processes at the same time is unrealistic. — Anand Kumar, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026 But Richardson had found that these images often provided an unrealistic picture of whether the antibody was effective. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026 At that point, the interest charges that compound and drive up the balance can make repayment increasingly unrealistic. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unrealistic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unrealistic

Adjective

Some are quieter this year, some are almost ridiculous, but all of them share a strange sense of purpose.

— Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Fashion history has a funny way of vindicating the people brave enough to look ridiculous.

— Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of ridiculous

Adjective

The Appalachian Trail is absolutely brutal The distance alone is obviously absurd, but mileage is only part of what makes the AT such a beast.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
The selection process does not judge whether a study is admirable or absurd, good or bad.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of absurd

Adjective

But the question remained unsolved for polygons with irrational angles.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
As a result, the argument goes, today's spending is irrational because the hardware would need to be replaced too frequently to generate an attractive return on investment, known as ROI.

— , CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of irrational

Adjective

The space telescope hasn't just collected incredible data; its images have also given the general public a new appreciation for the beauty and wonder of space.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The playable character models and even roaming NPCs feature incredible outfit details.

— Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of incredible

Adjective

Force majeure clauses excuse a party from performance when an unforeseeable external event like extreme weather or war makes performance impossible or impractical.

— Ashlee Difuntorum, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
There is no justification for American deaths in the name of the unsustainable and impractical goal of total military dominance, let alone unnecessary wars of choice.

— Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of impractical

Adjective

Playing the part largely for laughs, Moore actually has more in common with Lazenby than Connery; his Bond is softer and sillier than the original, an approach Moore would double down on in later films — often to the chagrin of Bond purists.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
For Lance Oppenheim, Primetime’s DNA resides inside a silly Cameo video.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of silly

Adjective

The search for awareness is now centered on machines, with the debate over artificial-intelligence sentience forcing scientists to take a hard look at what cognition and consciousness actually mean.

— Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
For scholars of that mindset, all reference to precedent—any precedent, either natural or artificial—is mediated by modern technologies of mechanical reproduction, and by an awareness of their ubiquitous sway.

— Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of artificial

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unreal

unrealistic

unrealities

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“Unrealistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unrealistic. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unrealistic

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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