surreal

adjective

Definition of surrealnext
as in irrational
very strange or unusual; having the quality of a dream a surreal atmosphere at the festival The whole situation was completely surreal.

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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 surreal Data centers’ almost surreal power demands are largely being met by combustion turbines, many of which are built by the tech companies themselves (to avoid waiting on upgrades to the local grid). — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026 With a surreal visual language that hat-tips everyone from Jacques Tati to Michael Haneke and the filmmaker’s longtime mentor Jia Zhangke, the film is a striking, startling class critique based on Manuel’s own Silver Bear-winning 2020 short film. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 July 2026 Seeing a familiar face from his childhood made an already unforgettable experience even more surreal, especially after so many years out of touch. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026 When Mary enters the haunting, surreal spaces looking for Clark, terror awaits her. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for surreal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surreal
  1. irrational
  2. weird
  3. strange
  4. unreasonable
  5. absurd
  6. unusual
  7. meaningless
  8. unreasoning
Adjective
  • Their ideas about it were often steeped in stereotypes suggesting that Buddhists were irrational and childish in their thinking.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 July 2026
  • Scammers often use isolation tactics in phone calls to panic the listener and rush them into making irrational choices that often have financial costs.
    — Ella Moore July 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of irrational
Adjective
  • This is a moody, weird, haunting, often beautiful film, punctuated by sudden violence and horror.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Their books are weird and beautifully eccentric, and often highlight obscure and experimental writers from the 18th and 19th century.
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • While Deliverance follows more or less in the footsteps of Blackwater Park, Damnation digs into a strange new realm for the band, uncovering something even darker.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
  • Downstate, the threat of black vultures still feels new and strange.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • In a poll on the post, 95% voted that this parent is NOT being unreasonable.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 12 July 2026
  • Those arguments largely resonated with judge Stephen Lau, who said that six or seven days’ notice to move all of Williams’ belongings was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of unreasonable
Adjective
  • In each social-commentary-teetering-on-horror episode, Nanno is a pupil at a different school, picture perfect and scanning the room for whatever secrets — an abusive teacher, an absurd hierarchical system, petty jealousy — demand to be revealed.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Cattelan spoke to the Financial Times about the strange afterlife of the work, which has become both a symbol of the art market’s excesses and a reminder of his talent for turning absurd ideas into global spectacles.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • But a small part is how the Rays have managed his unusual situation, handling him with some care.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • Categories for entrants in the pet parade included cutest pet, an owner and pet dress-alike, the biggest and smallest pet, most unusual pet and best trick.
    — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • As Simón gathered the ball, Mbappé simply ran up and jumped on him, much as a small boy might assault his older brother, in meaningless and unproductive rage, for refusing to share an ice cream.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
Definition of meaningless
Adjective
  • But in each event—in the living act, the undoubted deed—there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Roosevelt surely understood that nameless, unreasoning, unjustified fear cannot be eradicated.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 9 June 2026
Definition of unreasoning

Browse Nearby Words

surprisingly
surreal
surreality
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Cite this Entry

“Surreal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surreal. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on surreal

Nglish: Translation of surreal for Spanish Speakers

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