unrealistic

adjective

Definition of unrealisticnext
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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Dissimilar Words
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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Dissimilar Words

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 unrealistic Expecting adolescents with still-developing judgment and impulse control to consistently win that battle on their own is unrealistic. — Paul Jester, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026 Commercial mosquito repellents are often too expensive for many rural families in Uganda, making regular use unrealistic despite the risk of malaria. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 8 July 2026 Declinism, on the other hand, is an unrealistic glorification of the past coupled with the belief that things are steadily going downhill. — Markham Heid, Time, 8 July 2026 Following this process can build confidence and capability that support deeper decarbonization without forcing companies to take unrealistic risks. — Whitaker Irvin, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unrealistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unrealistic
  1. ridiculous
  2. unreasonable
  3. absurd
  4. irrational
  5. incredible
  6. impractical
  7. silly
  8. artificial
Adjective
  • Four-nil down at half-time, Mbappe started a ridiculous comeback.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • In the face of climate change, such woo woo aphorisms seem ridiculous, naive, and cruel.
    — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Definition of ridiculous
Adjective
  • From the second Eldridge was drafted, a little devil appeared on your shoulder and whispered unreasonable expectations into your ear.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 13 July 2026
  • In a poll on the post, 95% voted that this parent is NOT being unreasonable.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 12 July 2026
Definition of unreasonable
Adjective
  • In each social-commentary-teetering-on-horror episode, Nanno is a pupil at a different school, picture perfect and scanning the room for whatever secrets — an abusive teacher, an absurd hierarchical system, petty jealousy — demand to be revealed.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Cattelan spoke to the Financial Times about the strange afterlife of the work, which has become both a symbol of the art market’s excesses and a reminder of his talent for turning absurd ideas into global spectacles.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • In both cases, cheap credit fueled the irrational exuberance.
    — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • An irrational holding on to the possibility of a comeback, if that was the word if no one noticed you’d retired in the first place.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of irrational
Adjective
  • Given Nolan’s famous aversion to AI, there was a relief in knowing this incredible display of creativity came primarily from practical effects and shooting on location.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The Nordstrom Beauty annual sale has returned in grand style, and there are incredible deals to be had.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 July 2026
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • Since this was impractical, the ADA approved the original session but did not advertise it.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026
  • Due to their smaller size, developers hope they can be manufactured more efficiently and deployed in places where large nuclear plants would be impractical.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026
Definition of impractical
Adjective
  • She’s seen during a dance rehearsal, a silly social media clip, and onstage from their Lollapalooza set, the latter of which came before her announcement in February to step away from Katseye.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
  • Starring British comedy favourites such as Kevin Eldon and Miranda Hart, Hyperdrive is a very silly show that ended up more like a workplace sitcom in space rather than the next Red Dwarf.
    — William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • With the help of his students, Wangchuk froze stream water into conical artificial glaciers—or ice stupas—to store water during the winter and release it throughout the drier spring and summer.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
  • Because unreliable weather patterns can make natural snow scarce, the resort relies on artificial snow to make skiing possible all winter long.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of artificial

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Cite this Entry

“Unrealistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unrealistic. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unrealistic

Nglish: Translation of unrealistic for Spanish Speakers

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