unreasonable

adjective

ˌən-ˈrēz-nə-bəl
Definition of unreasonablenext
1
as in unwarranted
having no basis in reason or fact an unreasonable assumption

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in irrational
not using or following good reasoning an unreasonable respect for a man who did not deserve it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 unreasonable In her lawsuit, Phyllis Zorn said the raid violated protections for a free press, safeguards against unreasonable searches by law enforcement and a federal law that limits searches and seizures of journalists' materials. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 Given those pressures, a wholesale ban on AI is unreasonable, says Kathleen Schmidt, a publishing strategist who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026 The standard is very low, and that is 'more probable than not' that this child may have been put in an unreasonable risk of harm. — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 Which is not entirely unreasonable given this very specific set of circumstances. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unreasonable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unreasonable
  1. unwarranted
  2. irrational
  3. unfounded
  4. unreasoning
  5. baseless
  6. illegitimate
  7. unsupported
  8. groundless
Adjective
  • Last year, the panel also made several unwarranted changes to vaccine recommendations, including dropping the universal recommendation for a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine—a move widely decried by medical and health experts.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • At 79, Levy has been pleased to discover that often his discomfort is unwarranted.
    — Matthew Jacobs, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of unwarranted
Adjective
  • But the question remained unsolved for polygons with irrational angles.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, the argument goes, today's spending is irrational because the hardware would need to be replaced too frequently to generate an attractive return on investment, known as ROI.
    — , CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of irrational
Adjective
  • Local election officials had previously said the complaint was unfounded.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Still, that unfounded claim has continued to make some parents question the MMR shot, Handy said.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfounded
Adjective
  • But in each event—in the living act, the undoubted deed—there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
  • Roosevelt surely understood that nameless, unreasoning, unjustified fear cannot be eradicated.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 9 June 2026
Definition of unreasoning
Adjective
  • Towers said that concerns about consent and explanation of risk are baseless.
    — Amy Yurkanin, ProPublica, 24 Aug. 2026
  • And Democratic aides in Washington are preparing members of Congress to push back in the court of public opinion against any baseless claims of voter fraud in competitive districts.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of baseless
Adjective
  • Internet discussions portrayed the SPLC as a politically motivated or illegitimate actor.
    — Art Jipson, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Holding an incomplete vote, or one that feeds into any narrative of the winner being illegitimate, would be a tremendous gift to Moscow.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of illegitimate
Adjective
  • The feedback is often vague, unsupported by concrete examples and disconnected from anything the employee could have reasonably corrected earlier.
    — Lauren Russell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Paul argued Fauci using the Fifth Amendment was unsupported because former President Joe Biden, whom Fauci advised during the pandemic, pardoned him.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsupported
Adjective
  • For Rocha, however, the claims examined in the documentary are groundless — and tiring.
    — Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • But too often groundless complaints are filed concerning behavior that was an unremarkable part of growing up just a generation ago.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 21 May 2026
Definition of groundless

Browse Nearby Words

unreason
unreasonable
unreasonableness
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Cite this Entry

“Unreasonable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unreasonable. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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