as in unreasonable
not using or following good reasoning
it's irrational to think that you can continue to consume an excess of calories and not gain weight
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 irrational
This tracks with an observation made by the journalist David Epstein, who writes in Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World that athletes from tiny towns have irrational levels of success.
—
Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
The spreading of irrational fear of Trump and his policies that voters rejected last November has not deterred the Sun Sentinel from continuing the losing rhetoric by claiming that Trump wants to be king, that democracy is in jeopardy, and that the Supreme Court is betraying our Constitution.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Trump’s assaults on higher education are an irrational effort to destroy the segment of America that does enormous work for the national good.
—Peter Balakian
july 9, Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
However, the stock price is determined by all investors, both rational and irrational.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrational
Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
The spreading of irrational fear of Trump and his policies that voters rejected last November has not deterred the Sun Sentinel from continuing the losing rhetoric by claiming that Trump wants to be king, that democracy is in jeopardy, and that the Supreme Court is betraying our Constitution.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Trump’s assaults on higher education are an irrational effort to destroy the segment of America that does enormous work for the national good.
—Peter Balakian
july 9, Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
However, the stock price is determined by all investors, both rational and irrational.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrational
Adjective
-
The same could be true of the recent cost estimates, but construction technology has advanced in the past half century, so that lower costs per mile are not unreasonable.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Barbara Attard, a police accountability expert, said meet and confer can last months, but beyond a year is unreasonable.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 July 2025
Adjective
-
Carlson said he's seen a lot of online comments on posts about his new record claiming the fish's weight seems impossible and bow fishing being illegitimate.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
However, in past few years, the European Union has focused its attention on regulating activities in freeports, especially after increasing instances of use of these freeports, including those in Switzerland and Geneva, for illegitimate activities.—
Priya Prakash Royal Esq. LL.M. MBA AEP TEP,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irrational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrational. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share