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unnatural

[uhn-nach-er-uh l, -nach-ruh l]
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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.
  4. lacking human qualities or sympathies; monstrous; inhuman: an obsessive and unnatural hatred.
  5. not genuine or spontaneous; artificial or contrived: a stiff, unnatural manner.
  6. Obsolete. lacking a valid or natural claim; illegitimate.
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Origin of unnatural

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at un-1, natural
Related formsun·nat·u·ral·ly, adverbun·nat·u·ral·ness, noun

Synonyms

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3. irregular, aberrant. 4. heartless, brutal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unnatural

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • What the unnatural father would have done next, I do not know.

    Weighed and Wanting

    George MacDonald

  • For a moment she felt the full swinging of it; it did not seem at all strange or unnatural to her.

    The Dream

    Emile Zola

  • I beg of you to persist in your address—the unnatural brother called it address!

    Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • Are we to be exposed to this unnatural conduct every moment of our lives?

    Little Dorrit

    Charles Dickens

  • Arthur spoke presently, his tone so calm a one as almost to be unnatural.

    The Channings

    Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for unnatural

unnatural

adjective
  1. contrary to nature; abnormal
  2. not in accordance with accepted standards of behaviour or right and wrongunnatural love
  3. uncanny; supernaturalunnatural phenomena
  4. affected or forcedan unnatural manner
  5. inhuman or monstrous; wickedan unnatural crime
  6. obsolete illegitimate
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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

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper