UNNATURAL Synonyms: 172 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

unnatural

adjective

ˌən-ˈna-chə-rəl

Definition of unnatural

as in abnormal

departing from some accepted standard of what is normal the documentary evinces an unnatural obsession with the gruesome details of the disaster

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in strained

lacking in natural or spontaneous quality just before the debate, the candidates flashed unnatural smiles for the cameras

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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 While there are certain products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. — Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 13 June 2026 The whole thing felt unnatural. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 6 June 2026 Meet the ghost root, an edgy trend that is proudly unnatural and visually striking. — Diana Tsui, Footwear News, 29 May 2026 In a nearby tent was Zuhoor Musa Abdul Rahman, a 30-year-old housewife who recounted with unnatural calm the horrors that spurred her to flee El Fasher, a city some 300 miles east of Obeid. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for unnatural

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnatural

Adjective

Despite 2025 delivering some of the warmest summer months on record, January brought some of the coldest winter temperatures in years, and Baker said the coral are being bred to handle both extremes, not just abnormal warmth.

— Laurie Mermet, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
In the disease, the body produces an abnormal form of the oxygen-carrying molecule hemoglobin.

— Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Definition of abnormal

Adjective

Trout, who missed 17 games due to a strained right hamstring, hit a 438-foot shot that gave the Angels an 11-0 lead in the eighth.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
After years of strained public services, supply and food shortages and poverty, nearly 8 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the earthquakes hit.

— Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 6 July 2026

Definition of strained

Adjective

An infusion of false hope, however, is all the equalizer was.

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
Her post received 22,000 likes, and Elon Musk—who regularly boosts white-supremacist perspectives—and Joe Rogan have made similar claims about the group being a false-flag operation.

— Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of false

Adjective

Those included a charmingly cluttered Bucket family home, a lush candyland with the smell of chocolate piped through the Royal Theater to complement the full-size mock chocolate river, and a glass elevator that flew above the audience.

— Nathan Diller, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Grindlinger is a two-way standout from Southern California who Baseball America had going to Boston in its latest mock draft.

— Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 5 July 2026

Definition of mock

Adjective

The group was diving in the Golfo Nuevo around the Hu Shun Yu 809 artificial reef.

— Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Memory chip stocks have seen a massive run-up this year as a supply crunch, fueled by unrelenting artificial demand, allows businesses to set pricing.

— Samantha Subin, CNBC, 7 July 2026

Definition of artificial

Adjective

Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
The skyscraper is being converted into apartments, which is a more complicated process than building one from scratch and requires extensive structural, plumbing and mechanical work.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

Definition of mechanical

Adjective

Beware of the stalls selling fake leather or souvenirs made in China.

— Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
Tired of spending his days simply delighting in psychological torture and revenge, Lestat publicly chases the life of a famous rock star, writing and producing an album and performing in a cross-country tour while maintaining a fake vampire persona.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

In the clip, the robot performs exaggerated, erratic movements, raising its arms into a martial arts-style fighting stance before lunging toward people around it.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
There were new rules announced pre-tournament to minimise timewasting via exaggerated injuries or via substitutions.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of exaggerated

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unnamed

unnatural

unnaturally

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“Unnatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnatural. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of unnatural

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