unnatural

adjective

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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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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 In what seems like an instant, 9-1-1 callboards are lighting up across the city as reports come in about weird feats of unnatural strength. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Project Power': Film Review," 14 Aug. 2020 Over the last couple of months, the Internet has brought us some amazing content of animals thriving in their natural (and unnatural—look at these flamingos in Mumbai) habitats. — Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, "Watch Over 60,000 Sea Turtles Swim Near the Great Barrier Reef In This Stunning Drone Footage," 11 June 2020 This might be the new normal, but that doesn’t stop it from feeling unnatural. — Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, "Kiszla: With no baseball on opening day, Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland feels pain of “nothing to look forward to”," 25 Mar. 2020 An unnatural silence draped over the arena, interrupted only by the sound of the ball bouncing, the squeaking of shoes upon hardwood and intermittent conversations between players and their coaches. — Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, "The Big Ten is doing everything it can to play football this fall. And it still may not be enough," 10 July 2020 So say goodbye to the days of covering your home with an unnatural, heavy odor. — Jorie Nicole Mcdonald, Southern Living, "Smelly Odors Are No Match For This DIY Air Freshener," 29 June 2020 Covering faces and standing at a distance is unnatural, especially for those coping with grief. — Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, "Alabama funeral directors see pain, magnitude of pandemic," 28 June 2020 Netflix’s first summer smash is essentially a montage of impossible-looking pornographic scenes tied together with unnatural dialogue and aspirational landscapes. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "Why People Are Obsessed With a Terrible Polish Erotic Thriller," 26 June 2020 The weekly number of deaths from unnatural causes –- mainly homicides and road accidents –- fell to 400 by the end of April, the lowest on record, from 1,200 in January, data compiled by the South African Medical Research Council show. — Bloomberg.com, "Record Jump in Texas; WHO Warns on Latin America: Virus Update," 2 Mar. 2020

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.

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