unnatural

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

adjective

1. contrary to the laws or course of nature.

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

3. at variance with what is normal or to be expected.

   the unnatural atmosphere of the place.

   Synonyms: aberrant, irregular

4. lacking human qualities or sympathies; monstrous; inhuman.

   an obsessive and unnatural hatred.

   Synonyms: brutal, heartless

5. not genuine or spontaneous; artificial or contrived.

   a stiff, unnatural manner.

6. Obsolete.,  lacking a valid or natural claim; illegitimate.

unnatural

/ -ˈnætʃrəl, ʌnˈnætʃərəl /

adjective

1. contrary to nature; abnormal

2. not in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour or right and wrong

   unnatural love

3. uncanny; supernatural

   unnatural phenomena

4. affected or forced

   an unnatural manner

5. inhuman or monstrous; wicked

   an unnatural crime

6. obsolete,  illegitimate

Other Word Forms

• unnaturally adverb
• unnaturalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unnatural¹

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

Example Sentences

He adds that odd phrasing, unnatural emotional delivery, and lyrics that feel generic or repetitive can also be clues.

Read more on BBC

Then she laughs—a gleeful, inhuman, full-throated laugh that contorts her body into unnatural angles and positions.

Read more on Literature

Even the wolves found this conversation interesting, as you might well imagine, but the discussion was cut short by a hooting, unnatural sound, coming from a far distance.

Read more on Literature

Man-soo is a constant gardener who uses strong wires to twist roots and branches as he needs; their later use suggests the unnatural shapes into which the capitalist system twists humans.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was replaced by Mikey Lewis - a talented player but out of his depth in an unnatural position for him.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• abnormal 
• bizarre 
• incredible 
• odd 
• outlandish 
• outrageous 
• perverse 
• preposterous 
• stilted 
• strange 
• unusual