unnatural

[ uhn-nach-er-uhl, -nach-ruhl ]

/ ʌnˈnætʃ ər əl, -ˈnætʃ rəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unnatural ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

contrary to the laws or course of nature.

at variance with the character or nature of a person, animal, or plant.

at variance with what is normal or to be expected: the unnatural atmosphere of the place.

lacking human qualities or sympathies; monstrous; inhuman: an obsessive and unnatural hatred.

not genuine or spontaneous; artificial or contrived: a stiff, unnatural manner.

Obsolete. lacking a valid or natural claim; illegitimate.

Nearby words

Origin of unnatural

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at un-¹, natural

SYNONYMS FOR unnatural

3. irregular, aberrant. 4. heartless, brutal.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unnatural ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsun·nat·u·ral·ly, adverbun·nat·u·ral·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unnatural

Death by pills or lethal injection might be unnatural, but she believes that declining nourishment and medications is not.
The Nurse Coaching People Through Death by Starvation|Nick Tabor|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The group is working on inserting the unnatural base pairs in more than one spot in the cell.
Synthetic DNA: The New Drug Makers?|Elizabeth Lopatto|May 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not only is post-Yanukovych Ukraine dominated by a fascist clique, it is controlled by unnatural women.
Want a Good Look at Putin’s Pervy Propaganda? See ‘The Furies of Maidan’|Cathy Young|April 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now in his 80s, Blankenship claims to have charted out tunnels, corridors, and large, unnatural underground caverns.
Treasure Hunt to Discover Oak Island’s Mysterious Booty|Nina Strochlic|February 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Above water, unnatural animal and human interactions continue to rise.
How Climate Change Is Causing Chaos in the Animal Kingdom|Nina Strochlic|January 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What does it not pay of excruciating suspense, of hateful, laborious forebearance and unnatural self-denial?
The Wanderer (Volume 1 of 5)|Fanny Burney
As I have said repeatedly, I was at that time buoyed up by an unnatural strength, and my mind was abnormally active.
The Passion for Life|Joseph Hocking
Meanwhile, she's brought him here, and it is unnatural to see Bessy lending herself to such combinations.
The Fruit of the Tree|Edith Wharton
The Spanish Inquisitors have been regarded as the most unnatural monsters who ever disgraced the history of mankind.
The Crack of Doom|Robert Cromie
I cannot think of any really gentle, manly, and proper words to say what I think about my unnatural cousin.
New Treasure Seekers|E. (Edith) Nesbit

British Dictionary definitions for unnatural

unnatural

/ (ʌnˈnætʃərəl, -ˈnætʃrəl) /

adjective

contrary to nature; abnormal

not in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour or right and wrongunnatural love

uncanny; supernaturalunnatural phenomena

affected or forcedan unnatural manner

inhuman or monstrous; wickedan unnatural crime

obsolete illegitimate

Derived Formsunnaturally, adverbunnaturalness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unnatural

unnatural

adj.

early 15c., "not in accord with physical nature," from un- (1) "not" + natural (adj.). Meaning "artificial" is attested from 1746; that of "at variance with moral standards" is from 1520s.

unnatural

adjective

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Origin of unnatural

Examples from the Web for unnatural

unnatural

adjective

unnatural