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Definitions

unreal

[uhn-ree-uhl, -reel] / ʌnˈri əl, -ˈril /
ADJECTIVE
fake, make-believe; hypothetical
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dreamlike false fanciful hallucinatory illusory immaterial unbelievable
STRONG
artificial insubstantial unsubstantial
WEAK
aerial chimerical delusive fabled fabulous fictitious fictive figmental ideal imaginary imagined impalpable insincere intangible invented legendary misleading mock mythical nebulous nonexistent notional ostensible phantasmagoric pretended seeming sham storybook suppositious supposititious theoretical visionary
Antonyms
STRONGEST
actual authentic genuine real

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ejae said the reception of the animation and its music has felt unreal.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Those glimpses of humanity had a way of rendering the mercenary atmosphere in the tent city incredibly disorienting—almost unreal.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

But the characters are expressive, and the medium is used to unreal ends, which is, after all, what cartoons are good for.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

There’s a place called Charrd, which does unreal burgers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

When the stories were being shaped, we are given to understand, little distinction had as yet been made between the real and the unreal.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton