1
as in abnormal
departing from some accepted standard of what is normal
the documentary evinces an unnatural obsession with the gruesome details of the disaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strained
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
just before the debate, the candidates flashed unnatural smiles for the cameras
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unnatural
Changing these molecules would create an unnatural mirror image of a cell, as different as your right hand from your left.
—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
So much sediment had accumulated that, had it been removed in its entirety, that section of the river would have been an unnatural 15 feet deep — and wouldn’t have been able to support life at the bottom, according to Stork.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
That lack of confidence is charming and funny; when the experts on With Love, Meghan mess up, their humility feels feigned and unnatural, but Martin’s embarrassment only motivates everyone to help him out.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
This was due to publications like Solly Zuckerman’s The Social Life of Monkeys and Apes, based partly on observations of baboons housed in unnatural and stressful London zoos.
—Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnatural
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
So much sediment had accumulated that, had it been removed in its entirety, that section of the river would have been an unnatural 15 feet deep — and wouldn’t have been able to support life at the bottom, according to Stork.
—Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
That lack of confidence is charming and funny; when the experts on With Love, Meghan mess up, their humility feels feigned and unnatural, but Martin’s embarrassment only motivates everyone to help him out.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
This was due to publications like Solly Zuckerman’s The Social Life of Monkeys and Apes, based partly on observations of baboons housed in unnatural and stressful London zoos.
—Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unnatural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unnatural
Adjective
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The Dodgers swept Milwaukee in that best-of-three first-round series in 2020 and went on to win the whole thing, albeit in abnormal conditions.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
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In multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells build up in the bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood-forming cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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One of the main challenges facing the economy is the strained relationship between Beijing and Washington as disputes over technology and geopolitics mount.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
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Photothek via Getty Images Against the backdrop of a strained labour market, many workers feel obliged to overperform.—
Alliance Manchester Business School,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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More recently, her brother, Jose Napoleon, the director of admissions at Azure College in Fort Lauderdale, was charged this year with a wire-fraud conspiracy involving the sale of false nursing degrees.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
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In July and August 2024 anti-migrant riots ripped across the country following the murder of three young girls at a dance class in Stockport, and false rumors an immigrant was responsible.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Learners also engaged in mock sales calls with members of the Hawks’ sales staff, receiving real-time feedback in small breakout rooms.—
Ryan Stowers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo in their latest 2026 mock draft have Peterson edging out BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Tennessee’s Nate Ament for the top spot.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Because in a world where intelligence is becoming artificial, the quality of human thinking has never mattered more.—
Jaime Catmull,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The district is working to eliminate all artificial food dyes from its menus by the end of 2025, two years ahead of state regulations.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Rather than employ mechanical changes to his swing, the Twins thought moving free and easy would simply allow Jenkins to attack more of the zone.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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While quartz has served the industry well for decades, its sensitivity to environmental conditions, mechanical stress and aging presents challenges in demanding applications.—
Markus Lutz,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Colbert made several jokes about needing a job and even brought a fake resume with a youthful headshot of himself.—
Rosa Escandon,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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The Nepalese government, citing concerns over fake accounts, hate speech, disinformation and fraud, said the measures were to ensure accountability and make operators responsible for content on their platforms.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Madewell recently launched the Balloon Jean, a 100 percent cotton jean designed with a high rise and exaggerated barrel-leg shape.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
19 Sep. 2025
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The clean tech sector's frenzied growth during Biden-era policy has slowed but, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of its demise are grossly exaggerated.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unnatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unnatural. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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