as in illusion
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
a sci-fi author who seems to have preferred the unrealities of his own fiction to the realities of the world about him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 unreality
The movie itself is something of a trip; everything feels coated in a faint, menacing sheen of unreality, as if a slasher movie were just a wild twist or two away.
—
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
But as with its aww-shucks hero, there’s more to it than meets the eye; something much stranger lurks behind the slight Twilight Zone unreality of its very movie-ish Midwest.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
As the novel progresses, this sense of unreality sharpens.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
All those books teaching parents how to take care of their children—the first year, the first eighteen months, the first five or ten years—none of them addresses this difficulty: for parents and for children, the border between reality and unreality is not always clearly marked.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreality
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
But as with its aww-shucks hero, there’s more to it than meets the eye; something much stranger lurks behind the slight Twilight Zone unreality of its very movie-ish Midwest.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
As the novel progresses, this sense of unreality sharpens.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
All those books teaching parents how to take care of their children—the first year, the first eighteen months, the first five or ten years—none of them addresses this difficulty: for parents and for children, the border between reality and unreality is not always clearly marked.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreality
Noun
-
Inter basin transfers created the illusion of abundance.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In the 21st century, the moral entrepreneurs include media personalities and social influencers as well as the nonhuman bots and algorithms whose authority is derived by constructing the illusion of broad consensus.—
Ron Barrett,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
TikToker and books commentator Kenzie Deerin, who was introduced to the series in middle school, says the vampiric tale sparked her love for the fantasy romance genre.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
This included online betting, in person such as at a casino and private betting pools or fantasy leagues with friends or family.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Are your security goals on course to support your bigger dreams in life?—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Many surrealist artists cast women as muses or dream figures conjured for the male gaze.—
Sally Jane Brown,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The series can feel like a collective daydream.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Drawing fact and daydream together, Kelsey inserts herself into Loy’s story, acting like a bystander during interactions between Loy and Marcel Duchamp or Gertrude Stein.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
No more division, distraction, or gender delusions.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
She is caught up in a delusion, convinced that her imaginary accomplice Libardo is accusing her of betrayal.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, while vision isn’t their strongest sense, dogs may even be able to see certain aspects of a TV show.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The lengthy post projects a vision of what Sister Pie could look like 18 years after Ludwinski launched it out of her parents' home.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unreality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreality. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share