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 Video on state broadcaster CCTV showed the students, wearing bright orange life vests, clambering onto boats that took them away from the surreal scene of school buildings rising out of a lake of muddy water. — ABC News, 9 July 2026 The album’s distinctive artwork, depicting a USB drive plugged into Carson’s neck, has become the centerpiece of a larger sci-fi narrative explored through a series of surreal short films directed by Joy Divizn. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 7 July 2026 Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez keep a tight rein on this surreal, nightmarish classic. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026 Jack adds that seeing their images displayed on the venue’s marquee was surreal, noting that the production went on to sell out 19 consecutive performances at Radio City Music Hall — a record the couple says still stands. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 6 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
  • The bet, which happened on Polymarket, isn’t weird for the wild world of prediction markets.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The weird, vaguely threatening statement doesn’t lay the groundwork for a productive night, so naturally the vibes are just all off as the boys hang, so much so that Christian regrets planning it altogether.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • Others may miss the warmth of a person who can read the room, handle a strange request or help when something goes wrong.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Canada coach Jesse Marsch gives strange interview after Morocco World Cup loss.
    — Alex Connor, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • His certification is temporarily suspended due to excessive or unreasonable force from the incident, according to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
    — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • Your request for back-to-back weeks off at the last minute is unreasonable.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of unreasonable
Adjective
  • Space startup activity has been growing for years, with new companies hitting unicorn valuations at a pace that would have seemed absurd five years ago.
    — Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • That the Fendons don’t think to immediately tell their devastated adult son, Harry (Craig Roberts), that his dad is still alive is only the first delightfully absurd wrinkle in this mischievous black comedy.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • Although his adoption listing didn't mention his unusual paws, his foster mom did.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Indeed, that has led to the highly unusual situation of Australia not being the defending champions in either women’s World Cup, with India holding the 50-over title and New Zealand the T20 crown.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • One sure focus is the rampant grade inflation that exaggerates student achievement and has made graduating high school close to meaningless as an indicator of college preparedness.
    — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026
  • This distinction between meaningful and meaningless data evokes signal versus noise, a communication concept formulated by the mathematician Claude Shannon.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 2 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

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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 15 Jul. 2026.

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