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Synonym Chooser

How is the word unnatural distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words anomalous and irregular are common synonyms of unnatural. While all three words mean "not conforming to rule, law, or custom," 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

When could anomalous be used to replace unnatural?

The meanings of anomalous and unnatural largely overlap; however, 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

When is irregular a more appropriate choice than unnatural?

The words irregular and unnatural are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

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 unnatural That lack of confidence is charming and funny; when the experts on With Love, Meghan mess up, their humility feels feigned and unnatural, but Martin’s embarrassment only motivates everyone to help him out. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025 Sony recently called for research partnerships that focus on richer joint designs and more flexible structures, noting that many machines move in rigid and unnatural ways. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2025 This was due to publications like Solly Zuckerman’s The Social Life of Monkeys and Apes, based partly on observations of baboons housed in unnatural and stressful London zoos. Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025 With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unnatural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnatural
Adjective
  • The Dodgers swept Milwaukee in that best-of-three first-round series in 2020 and went on to win the whole thing, albeit in abnormal conditions.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells build up in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood-forming cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the main challenges facing the economy is the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington as disputes over technology and geopolitics mount.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Photothek via Getty Images Against the backdrop of a strained labour market, many workers feel obliged to overperform.
    Alliance Manchester Business School, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The false assurance was more than a slip.
    Eric Tucker, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Robinson, the founder of the now-defunct anti-immigration English Defence League (EDL), was released from prison earlier this year, having been jailed for being in contempt of court by repeating false accusations about a Syrian refugee.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Whose idea was this, and what kinds of settler-colonial relations does this mock holdup invert?
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Sweater My grandmother also purchased this 100 percent cashmere mock-neck sweater to have on hand in case the weather requires an extra layer.
    Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • To address these challenges, the Institute of Energy carried out research on the steady-state operation performance of China’s USD one-trillion ‘artificial sun’ fusion reactor.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than employ mechanical changes to his swing, the Twins thought moving free and easy would simply allow Jenkins to attack more of the zone.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • While quartz has served the industry well for decades, its sensitivity to environmental conditions, mechanical stress and aging presents challenges in demanding applications.
    Markus Lutz, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Colbert made several jokes about needing a job and even brought a fake resume with a youthful headshot of himself.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The Nepalese government, citing concerns over fake accounts, hate speech, disinformation and fraud, said the measures were to ensure accountability and make operators responsible for content on their platforms.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Since the movie features an exaggerated take on real-life dating shows, what was your experience like filming a reality show within a movie?
    Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But are those exaggerated reactions innate or learned?
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Unnatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnatural. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on unnatural

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