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Meaning & use

unnatural

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ʌnˈnætʃrəl/
US/ʌnˈnætʃərəl/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Strange or abnormal because it differs from how things normally occur in nature or ordinary life.

    Grammar: Often suggests something wrong: an unnatural silence.

    Patterns

    • it is unnatural for someone to do something

    The room had an unnatural silence.

    It's unnatural for a child to be so quiet.

    The sky turned an unnatural green before the storm.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Forced or fake rather than relaxed and sincere in manner.

    Grammar: Describes behavior: an unnatural smile.

    Patterns

    • sound unnatural
    • look unnatural

    Her laugh sounded unnatural.

    He gave an unnatural smile for the photo.

    The actor's lines felt stiff and unnatural.

  3. adjectivecomparableold-fashioned

    Not occurring in nature but made by people or going against moral or social rules.

    Grammar: Used in older or formal moral talk.

    Patterns

    • an unnatural act

    The dye gave the fruit an unnatural color.

    Some people once called such acts unnatural.

    Unnatural fertilizers were banned there.

Word forms

comparativemore unnatural
superlativemost unnatural

Common combinations

unnatural silence
An unnatural silence filled the hall.
feel unnatural
Speaking in public feels unnatural to me.
unnatural color
The candy was an unnatural blue.
sound unnatural
His polite tone sounded unnatural.
unnatural death
The police investigated an unnatural death.

Synonyms and how they differ

artificial
Artificial is neutral and just means made by people, but unnatural often sounds uneasy.
abnormal
Abnormal means different from the usual pattern, without the idea of going against nature.
forced
Forced fits only behavior that is not sincere.
strange
Strange is broader and more casual, with no hint of nature.

Opposites

naturalnormal

Word family

nature noun
the physical world and its forces
natural adjective
existing in nature, not made by people
unnaturally adverb
in a way that is not natural
unnaturalness noun
the quality of being unnatural

Commonly confused: unnatural or supernatural?

unnatural vs supernatural

Supernatural describes things beyond the laws of nature, such as ghosts; unnatural means abnormal.

Practice

The orange of the drink looked so ____ that I doubted it was real juice.

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