unnatural
adjective
un·nat·u·ral ˌən-ˈna-chə-rəl 
-ˈnach-rəl
1
: not being in accordance with nature or consistent with a normal course of events
2
a
: not being in accordance with normal human feelings or behavior : perverse
b
: lacking ease and naturalness : contrived
her manner was forced and unnatural
c
: inconsistent with what is reasonable or expected
an unnatural alliance
unnaturally
ˌən-ˈna-chə-rə-lē
adverb -ˈnach-rə-
-ˈna-chər-
unnaturalness
ˌən-ˈna-chə-rəl-nəs
noun -ˈnach-rəl-
Synonyms
- aberrant
- aberrational
- abnormal
- anomalous
- atypical
- deviant
- deviate
- devious
- irregular
- untypical
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
It seems unnatural to keep the bird in a cage. She has an unnatural obsession with money. Her smile looked forced and unnatural.
Recent Examples on the Web Each was initially admired for being more real than his predecessors; actors are never admired for being unnatural. 
Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 These four will explore the myths and realities of both natural and unnatural threats from viruses to volcanoes, asteroids to authoritarianism, and climate change to chemical warfare. al, 24 Aug. 2022 And if hugging a tree or smelling the dirt feels unnatural and cringey to you, find a different way. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 22 Apr. 2022 The story begins with the early years (the musical proceeds mostly along chronological lines, which can have a stultifying effect), when Douglass first rebelled against the unnatural nature of his relationship to the world. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 Your body would have to come up with strange, compensatory movement patterns to create an alternative and the body would wind up confused and exhausted due to this unnatural, inefficient patterning. Fiona Ward, Glamour, 9 Aug. 2022 If scheduling leisure seems unnatural to you, consider the way good health requires you to schedule your meals and exercise at more or less a certain time each day for a particular amount of time. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2022 Like Final Destination, the first Ice Age is a somewhat serious and grounded fantasy film about the cruel randomness of death in our natural (and sometimes unnatural) world. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 The result is degradation of the tree’s base and an unnatural lack of vegetation around it. Nicole Kagan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022 See More
Simon Callow, The New York Review of Books, 3 Aug. 2022 These four will explore the myths and realities of both natural and unnatural threats from viruses to volcanoes, asteroids to authoritarianism, and climate change to chemical warfare. al, 24 Aug. 2022 And if hugging a tree or smelling the dirt feels unnatural and cringey to you, find a different way. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 22 Apr. 2022 The story begins with the early years (the musical proceeds mostly along chronological lines, which can have a stultifying effect), when Douglass first rebelled against the unnatural nature of his relationship to the world. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 Your body would have to come up with strange, compensatory movement patterns to create an alternative and the body would wind up confused and exhausted due to this unnatural, inefficient patterning. Fiona Ward, Glamour, 9 Aug. 2022 If scheduling leisure seems unnatural to you, consider the way good health requires you to schedule your meals and exercise at more or less a certain time each day for a particular amount of time. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2022 Like Final Destination, the first Ice Age is a somewhat serious and grounded fantasy film about the cruel randomness of death in our natural (and sometimes unnatural) world. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 The result is degradation of the tree’s base and an unnatural lack of vegetation around it. Nicole Kagan, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing unnatural
Kids Definition
unnatural
adjective
un·nat·u·ral ˌən-ˈna-chə-rəl
-ˈnach-rəl
1
: different from what is found in nature or happens naturally
2
: different from what is usually considered normal behavior
3
: not genuine
an unnatural smile
unnatural
adjective
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
Relevance
- abnormal
- unusual
- irregular
- unusual
- uncommon
- anomalous
- odd
- deviant
- aberrant
- atypical
- uncommon
- aberrational
- extraordinary
- bizarre
- weird
- strange
- odd
- devious
- untypical
- extraordinary
- unconventional
- peculiar
- strange
- deviate
- eccentric
- freakish
- funny
- remarkable
- peculiar
- unwonted
- unrepresentative
- curious
- unorthodox
- outlandish
- idiosyncratic
- rare
- kinky
- wacky
- screwy
- preternatural
- uncustomary
- quirky
- unwonted
- outré
- whacky
- quaint
- wild
- rare
- preternatural
- uncustomary
- queerish
- nonconformist
- queer
- way-out
- far-out
- out-of-the-way
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- natural
- normal
- typical
- regular
- standard
- ordinary
- common
- familiar
- commonplace
- unremarkable
- everyday
- unexceptional
- routine
- usual
- customary
- characteristic
- average
- run-of-the-mine
- wonted
- run-of-the-mill
- archetypal
- workaday
- representative
- run-of-mine
- archetypical
2
as in strained
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality just before the debate, the candidates flashed unnatural smiles for the cameras Synonyms & Similar Words
- strained
- false
- artificial
- mock
- mechanical
- fake
- affected
- exaggerated
- pseudo
- forced
- simulated
- contrived
- assumed
- theatrical
- spurious
- plastic
- factitious
- pretended
- unreal
- bogus
- cute
- theatric
- feigned
- phony
- sham
- hollow
- unrealistic
- deliberate
- empty
- automatic
- calculated
- hypocritical
- hokey
- unauthentic
- put-on
- stiff
- formal
- phoney
- insincere
- manufactured
- melodramatic
- labored
- pat
- overdone
- unctuous
- conscious
- concocted
- rigid
- histrionic
- conventional
- canned
- fabricated
- impersonal
- facile
- wooden
- cultivated
- stylized
- cutesy
- simpering
- artful
- inflexible
- overacted
- premeditated
- mincing
- mealy
- two-faced
- studied
- genteel
- left-handed
- overrefined
- goody-goody
- mealymouthed
- double-dealing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- natural
- spontaneous
- real
- genuine
- unaffected
- artless
- realistic
- true
- right
- authentic
- bona fide
- unfeigned
- unforced
- easy
- sincere
- uncontrived
- smooth
- honest
- effortless
- instinctive
- unconscious
- impulsive
- extemporaneous
- ingenuous
- impromptu
- unpretending
- unstudied
- unrehearsed
- unprompted
Synonym Chooser
The words anomalous and irregular are common synonyms of unnatural. While all three words mean "not conforming to rule, law, or custom," unnatural suggests what is contrary to nature or to principles or standards felt to be essential to the well-being of civilized society.
prisoners treated with unnatural cruelty
The meanings of anomalous and unnatural largely overlap; however, anomalous implies not conforming to what might be expected because of the class or type to which it belongs or the laws that govern its existence.
her drive made her an anomalous figure in a sleepy organization
The words irregular and unnatural are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, irregular implies not conforming to a law or regulation imposed for the sake of uniformity in method, practice, or conduct.
concerned about his irregular behavior