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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unreality
The theme-park-like aesthetic added to the unreality of Annie's situation, living mostly in solitary confinement for the years after the world ended.
—
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Contributing to this air of unreality is Kari Kankaanpää’s production design, in which everything feels a little heightened and stylized.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Yet even as Pym stalked him, slept with him, and pined after him, there was an element of unreality in her ardor, Harvey recalled.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The cringing mortifications and unsettling unreality make the series a tough sit.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreality
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Contributing to this air of unreality is Kari Kankaanpää’s production design, in which everything feels a little heightened and stylized.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Yet even as Pym stalked him, slept with him, and pined after him, there was an element of unreality in her ardor, Harvey recalled.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The cringing mortifications and unsettling unreality make the series a tough sit.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unreality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreality
Noun
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That's why rich girl hair colors are a calling card for those who favor an upscale aesthetic, or at least a beauty look that creates the illusion of luxury.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
17 June 2026
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Over the last 8 months, Schoening has sifted through hundreds of pages of campaign finance reports and says Marx has created the illusion of being the frontrunner.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Noun
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These memories of his brief, sad human life are uneasy dreams that Lestat wakes from on his tour bus as the sun sets over the road to Toledo.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
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One concerns a romantic dream come true that becomes a bit of a nightmare.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 June 2026
Noun
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For those who prefer fiction to nonfiction, mysteries edge out science fiction and fantasy as the most popular genre overall, and they are favored by both women and readers who read the most books per year (though men are more likely to pick up sci-fi and fantasy).—
Fred Backus,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Clarke played fantasy football for years and casually bet on offshore sportsbooks.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
Noun
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The one that really makes Ivanka and Jared daydream is located off shore, across the Bay of Vlorë, between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, in the Strait of Otranto that separates Albania from Italy.—
Marzio G. Mian,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
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The heady scent—a mix of white florals, amber, and sandalwood—induces daydreams of tanning on a white-sand beach.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
Noun
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The collection made the wait feel almost purposeful, as if absence sharpened the duo’s already exacting vision.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
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Roman will pair a large field of view with crisp infrared vision to survey deep, vast swaths of sky.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 June 2026
Noun
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The darkly comedic drama confronts reality, privacy, and the delusions fueling our ever-changing world.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
16 June 2026
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Also, just a little bit of delusion will carry you a long way.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unreality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreality. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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