unreliable narrator
noun
a narrator, especially in a work of fiction, whose version of events cannot be completely trusted.
unreliable narrators
-
pluralof unreliable narrator.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
"I feel like, when our motivations are invisible, even to ourselves, all of us are unreliable narrators," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2025
Narrative anatomy is explored as well in “Slay the Princess,” a visual novel with multiple unreliable narrators that upends damsel-in-distress and hero tropes with a mix of horror, comedy and romance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2023
As the author of a history of autism called NeuroTribes, I’d fought against the idea that autistic people are unreliable narrators of their own lives.
From Scientific American ● Jul. 12, 2023
Ms. Song, who has interviewed numerous North Korean defectors, noted that the country’s refugees are often unreliable narrators of their own experiences.
From New York Times ● Jun. 22, 2023
In a genre now dominated by unreliable narrators and implausible plot twists, the "Dick Francis" novels continue to be page-turning, high-stakes adventure stories of heroes and horses.
From Salon ● Nov. 19, 2022
