1
as in ridiculous
not likely to occur in the real world
The movie's unrealistic dialogue kept distracting me from the story.
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2
as in unreasonable
based on what is wanted or hoped for rather than on what is possible or likely
He had unrealistic expectations about the type of apartment he could afford on his meager salary. The valuation placed on this company is completely unrealistic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unrealistic
Today, this appears entirely unrealistic.
—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
This seemed unrealistic to Hammeken-Holm, whose office would be responsible for issuing the permits for such a project.
—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
Perinatal psychologist and women's mental health specialist, Jana Rundle, PsyD, who is also an expert for skincare brand, Pure Mama, agrees that expectations placed on moms are incredibly high—and unrealistic.
—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
9 June 2026
Pressure from unrealistic expectations for a national team that had qualified for only two previous World Cups and never advanced past the second round.
—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unrealistic
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
This seemed unrealistic to Hammeken-Holm, whose office would be responsible for issuing the permits for such a project.
—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
Perinatal psychologist and women's mental health specialist, Jana Rundle, PsyD, who is also an expert for skincare brand, Pure Mama, agrees that expectations placed on moms are incredibly high—and unrealistic.
—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
9 June 2026
Pressure from unrealistic expectations for a national team that had qualified for only two previous World Cups and never advanced past the second round.
—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unrealistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unrealistic
Adjective
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Americans may have become too intolerant of heat, but this is patently ridiculous.
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And the old person who rebels is ridiculous.
Adjective
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If these requirements are not met, the search is unreasonable and therefore unlawful, and evidence obtained in that search cannot be used in court, barring a good-faith exception.
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Justices ruled that sweeping use of cellphone data requires a warrant, a decision applying the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, to new technology.
Adjective
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The 41-year-old is still an elite NBA player, which is still an absurd reality to consider.
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The thesis rests on a claim that would have sounded absurd a year ago.
Adjective
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The reflex, from a distance, is to call this irrational.
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If people believe regulatory caution invalidates every legal claim, courts may look irrational.
Adjective
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There was also an incredible amount of violence directed at the people who had come to stop it.
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Not constrained by traditional vehicle design, Ojai has an incredible amount of legroom.
Adjective
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The firm at one earlier point had reportedly offered a service to screen against low intelligence in human embryos, which is a highly controversial and perhaps impractical idea.
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Pretty, functional storage solutions are the perfect antidote to impractical minimalism.
Adjective
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Over the years, the visuals dramatically improve, from snuff film aesthetics to confidently silly splendor.
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The Alexa smart assistant is as good as ever, with tons of useful and silly skills, along with deep integration for ordering items via Amazon.
Adjective
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The West should also stop drawing artificial distinctions that favor Russian escalation management over Ukrainian survival.
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Instead of using artificial colors, look for ingredients that naturally fit the bill.
Cite this Entry
“Unrealistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unrealistic. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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