UNREASON Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

unreason

noun

Definition of unreason

as in dementia

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Recent Examples of unreason Reason had to triumph in all things, or else waves of unreason, of which the Muckers were a model, would insinuate themselves into daily life. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 In that book, his characters confront the decline of American public speech—its degeneration into varieties of unreason and the proto-fascist violence that follows. — Nicholas Dames, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2026 For all Eggers’s dramatization of unreason, his images sit heavily onscreen awaiting something more significant than mere admiration—interpretation. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024 Like many politicians, Khan is trying to reason with a maelstrom of unreason. — Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024 The country has entered what can only be characterized as an age of unreason, with large swaths of its population embracing wild conspiracy theories. — Jonathan Kirshner, Foreign Affairs, 29 Jan. 2021

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreason

Noun

Since expanding from theater into film, writer-director Florian Zeller has specialized in examining the pressure of mental health issues on families — dealing with dementia in The Father and depression in The Son, both based on his plays.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
As in this year’s other notable book about dementia, Ben Lerner’s Transcription, the fritzing out of David’s memory seems primarily like a language disorder.

— Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of dementia

Noun

Like the real-life star of such films as Black Swan, M is a former child actor whose film roles include a ballerina who descends into madness.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
As dark occurrences begin to shatter the quiet of their isolated home, the boy is forced to navigate a harrowing psychological nightmare where the line between real-world madness and supernatural terror blurs.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of madness

Noun

Clancy was tried in a Massachusetts court of law, one of the few venues where defendants such as Clancy enjoy the presumption of proof for pleas of insanity, once they are allowed to make such a plea.

— Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2026
Judge Andy Porter found Tracy Walters not guilty by reason of insanity in the December 2021 killing of Cynthia Cervantes, a social worker and Navy veteran.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of insanity

Noun

But for a law firm ready to convert AI mania into billable hours, there’s a ready payoff at hand.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Still On The Docket 5 biggest unanswered questions When hockey’s news cycle started slowing down back in early July-ish, post-offer-sheet mania, a surprising number of big-time storylines were still left hanging in the air.

— James Mirtle, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of mania

Noun

Symptoms, which can take up to two months to develop, may include headache, nausea and sore throat before progressing to hallucinations, delusions, disorientation, paralysis and coma.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Smaller numbers reported experiencing delusions, hallucinations, physical pain, rage, and suicidality.

— Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026