SURREAL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

surreal

adjective

Definition of surreal

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 Jane Schoenbrun’s latest movie, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, is shocking, emotional, provocative, numbing, warm, witty, and surreal. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 After months of constant sickness, simply existing without nausea felt almost surreal. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 For Richardson-Whitfield, the recognition is both surreal and deeply personal. — Dominique Fluker, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The chance to observe a total solar eclipse doesn't come along very often and is truly surreal and magical. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surreal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for surreal

Adjective

But the question remained unsolved for polygons with irrational angles.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
As a result, the argument goes, today's spending is irrational because the hardware would need to be replaced too frequently to generate an attractive return on investment, known as ROI.

— , CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of irrational

Adjective

This turns into a big argument about Issa being a weird little guy, and suddenly there are multiple potential roommate schisms in the house.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
There’s a comically weird dinner with Kel’s ex, Sabrina (a scintillatingly eccentric Jasmin Savoy Brown).

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of weird

Adjective

Twenty-four hours after moving to London from New Zealand, Lavanda wanted to go out for a cocktail but felt strange going alone.

— Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
There are a lot of on-the-road songs about travels through this strange, heartbreaking, and beautiful planet.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of strange

Adjective

The roster might as well be an All-Star team, and this pitching staff is absurd.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
The very idea of a trade war with Canada — our neighbor, our ally, our closest friend, a nation that’s peaceful and whose people have a reputation for kindness — is absurd.

— Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of absurd

Adjective

Its unusual features give it a curious, almost surprised expression, helping people connect with a species rarely seen outside its coral home.

— Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Researchers used Jefferson Lab’s Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) to produce the experiment’s unusual probe.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of unusual

Adjective

But for a college freshman with a Venmo balance and a favorite team, the distinction is meaningless.

— Emily Stack, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026
On the surface to the casual fan, Saturday night’s preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals was a meaningless exhibition smack-dab in the middle of one of the toughest months of the year for football fans.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 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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“Surreal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surreal. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of surreal

adjective

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Synonyms of surreal

adjective

Example Sentences

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Articles Related to surreal

Words of the Year: A Decade in Review

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