as in surreal
seeming to exist in a dream; like a dream
Her photographs have a dreamlike quality.
Related Words
Relevance
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 dreamlike
German Expressionism and Surrealism, deemed degenerate by Nazis and Soviets alike, show up in stylized figuration, spatial distortion, and a dreamlike atmosphere.
—
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Their romance emerges alongside the dreamlike atmosphere of the mysterious circus, their illusions becoming a way to communicate with each other.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
What follows is a sweetly oblique, even dreamlike interlude of recuperation.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
That dreamlike state sets in after the crash, from the moment that roadside woman, whose name turns out to be Betty (Barbara Auer), rushes up to help.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
His previous book, The Village Idiot (2022), explored the historical reality of the early-twentieth-century School of Paris artists from the dreamlike perspective of the expressionist painter Chaïm Soutine, who trudges beneath the Seine in a diving suit.
—Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Her images capture the deep, quiet rhythm of the coast and desert, turning moments of transition into dreamlike, meditative scenes.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The sound design by Andre Pluess juxtaposes nostalgic piano music with violent sound effects, while Jason Lynch’s lighting design often evokes a dreamlike quality.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
For 42 years, Charlotte Molesworth, an artist, and her husband, Donald, have been creating a garden of almost dreamlike eclecticism.
—Amy Waldman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
Their romance emerges alongside the dreamlike atmosphere of the mysterious circus, their illusions becoming a way to communicate with each other.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
What follows is a sweetly oblique, even dreamlike interlude of recuperation.
—Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
That dreamlike state sets in after the crash, from the moment that roadside woman, whose name turns out to be Betty (Barbara Auer), rushes up to help.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
His previous book, The Village Idiot (2022), explored the historical reality of the early-twentieth-century School of Paris artists from the dreamlike perspective of the expressionist painter Chaïm Soutine, who trudges beneath the Seine in a diving suit.
—Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Her images capture the deep, quiet rhythm of the coast and desert, turning moments of transition into dreamlike, meditative scenes.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
The sound design by Andre Pluess juxtaposes nostalgic piano music with violent sound effects, while Jason Lynch’s lighting design often evokes a dreamlike quality.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
For 42 years, Charlotte Molesworth, an artist, and her husband, Donald, have been creating a garden of almost dreamlike eclecticism.
—Amy Waldman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dreamlike
Adjective
-
Floating quietly in the water while these massive creatures moved through the ocean around us felt surreal, the kind of travel moment that lodges permanently in memory.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In a surreal intertextual turn, Bratu’s Angela, played by Dorina Lazăr, appears in Jude’s contemporary Bucharest.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The consensus among everyone, from seniors to juniors, is that HSBC is a fantastic franchise with massive potential.—
Clay Chandler,
semafor.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Talk about a split personality; the first part of today will be fantastic with plenty of sunshine and temperatures quickly soaring to the mid-70s.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Cleveland Guardians have also stacked some early wins, overcoming their below-average offensive production thanks to a pitching staff that has been striking out opposing hitters at an incredible rate.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Highlights include an elegant, compact profile, incredible-feeling low-profile optical switches, a striking mini LCD in the top-right corner, and Elgato Stream Deck integration.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Esther said that Kim was upset about McCormick's bizarre behavior.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The Sharks allowed second-period goals to Marco Rossi — on a bizarre play –– and Jake DeBrusk on a Canucks power play as the two teams entered the third period tied 2-2.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dreamlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dreamlike. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
