unnatural

adjective

un·nat·u·ral | \ ˌən-ˈna-chə-rəl

, -ˈnach-rəl\

Definition of unnatural

1 : not being in accordance with nature or consistent with a normal course of events

2a : not being in accordance with normal human feelings or behavior : perverse

b : lacking ease and naturalness : contrived her manner was forced and unnatural

c : inconsistent with what is reasonable or expected an unnatural alliance

Other Words from unnatural Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about unnatural

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Other Words from unnatural

unnaturally \ ˌən-ˈna-chə-rə-lē

, -ˈnach-rə- , -ˈna-chər- \ adverb

unnaturalness \ ˌən-ˈna-chə-rəl-nəs

, -ˈnach-rəl- \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for unnatural

irregular, anomalous, unnatural mean not conforming to rule, law, or custom. irregular implies not conforming to a law or regulation imposed for the sake of uniformity in method, practice, or conduct. concerned about his irregular behavior anomalous implies not conforming to what might be expected because of the class or type to which it belongs or the laws that govern its existence. her drive made her an anomalous figure in a sleepy organization unnatural suggests what is contrary to nature or to principles or standards felt to be essential to the well-being of civilized society. prisoners treated with unnatural cruelty

Examples of unnatural in a Sentence

It seems unnatural to keep the bird in a cage. She has an unnatural obsession with money. Her smile looked forced and unnatural.

Recent Examples on the Web

No religion or media or bully can convince me that true love is unnatural. — Paula Rogo, Essence, "Ari Lennox Claps Back At Homophobic People: 'If You Don’t Support LGBTQ Community, You Don’t Support Me'," 3 Sep. 2019 Many people struggle with feeling awkward and unnatural in these social situations. — Dear Sam | Expert Resume, oregonlive, "How do I expand my network?," 15 Mar. 2019 There is nothing that prevents us from deciding that the goal of life should be to be as unnatural as possible. — Louis Menand, The New Yorker, "How Cultural Anthropologists Redefined Humanity," 19 Aug. 2019 But the sargassum is now home to objects wholly unnatural too. — Arwa Damon, CNN, "Microplastics discovered in 'extreme' concentrations in the North Atlantic," 19 Aug. 2019 Or is that so unnatural that your skin will just freak out and eventually grow them again? — Sarah Jacoby, SELF, "Please Tell Me How to Actually Get Rid of Blackheads Already," 29 July 2019 But the photos the team shared were filtered in that unnatural way all college football team graphics always are, so there was some hope that the finished product could be more appealing. — Dan Gartland, SI.com, "Michigan State’s Abominable Neon Uniforms Are Worse Than We Feared," 5 Aug. 2019 An unnatural rate suggests a distortion either from the government or a market failure. — Allison Schrager, Quartz, "Are negative interest rates unusual, natural, or both?," 30 July 2019 Ryan Bethencourt, the company’s CEO, was fending off attacks from a few of the judges, enduring accusations that forcing our furry friends to forgo meat is unnatural and borderline crazy. — Brian Kateman, Quartz, "Vegan pets sound bougie, but they might just save the Earth," 12 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unnatural.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.