VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

unrealistic

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌʌnrɪəˈlɪstɪk/
US/ˌʌnriːəˈlɪstɪk/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Not sensible or possible because it ignores how things really are, such as a goal, hope or plan.

    Grammar: Can follow be or come before a noun: an unrealistic goal, or the goal is unrealistic.

    Patterns

    • unrealistic about something
    • an unrealistic expectation
    • it is unrealistic to do something

    It is unrealistic to expect a perfect score every time.

    The deadline was unrealistic given the small team.

    He has unrealistic ideas about how much money writers make.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Not like real life, as in a film, picture or story that does not seem believable.

    Grammar: Applies to depictions of reality.

    Patterns

    • unrealistic portrayal of something

    The movie gives an unrealistic picture of life in a small town.

    Her unrealistic paintings used bright, impossible colors.

    The plot twist felt completely unrealistic.

Word forms

comparativemore unrealistic
superlativemost unrealistic

Common combinations

unrealistic expectations
Unrealistic expectations led to disappointment.
an unrealistic goal
Losing twenty pounds in a week is an unrealistic goal.
wildly unrealistic
The profit forecast was wildly unrealistic.
unrealistic about
He is unrealistic about his chances.
an unrealistic deadline
We asked for more time because the deadline was unrealistic.

Synonyms and how they differ

impractical
Impractical means hard to carry out in practice, while unrealistic means out of touch with how things are.
fanciful
Fanciful is more imaginative and whimsical, often describing ideas rather than real plans.
idealistic
Idealistic describes someone with high principles, while unrealistic stresses that the hopes cannot happen.
far-fetched
Far-fetched is used for stories or explanations that are hard to believe.

Opposites

realisticpracticalachievable

Word family

realistic adjective
based on facts and what can be done
unrealistically adverb
in a way that ignores reality
reality noun
the way things really are
realism noun
accepting things as they are

Commonly confused: unrealistic or unreal?

unrealistic vs unreal

Unreal can mean amazing or not seeming real, whereas unrealistic is about plans or ideas that do not fit the facts.

Practice

Finishing a full novel in one weekend with no prior outline is ___.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “unrealistic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words