Unnatural
/ʌnˈnætʃərəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsContrary to the normal course of nature; not normal or usual.
/ʌnˈnætʃərəl/
Not in accordance with the laws of nature; not normal or usual.
The unnatural stillness in the house made her uneasy.
💡 Simply: Something that's weird or not like things usually are. Like if a cat started speaking English, that would be unnatural!
👶 For kids: Not normal or what usually happens.
More Examples
It felt unnatural to him to speak so loudly.
The movie depicted a series of unnatural events that led to the apocalypse.
How It's Used
"The unnatural silence in the forest was unsettling."
"Shakespeare often uses unnatural acts to foreshadow tragedy."
"The scientists were studying the unnatural growth patterns of the coral."
Contrary to human nature or instincts; not genuine or sincere.
/ʌnˈnætʃərəl/
Not in accordance with human instincts; not genuine or sincere.
The smile on his face seemed unnatural.
💡 Simply: When someone's acting fake or not being themselves, like when they're trying too hard to be nice and it just feels off.
👶 For kids: Not being real or honest.
More Examples
There was an unnatural quietness in the room, everyone knew something was wrong.
Her unnatural interest in gossip raised questions about her motives.
How It's Used
"His unnatural behavior after the incident raised suspicions."
"She felt an unnatural discomfort when she was forced to act nice towards someone she hated."
Synonyms
Abnormal
Artificial
Bizarre
Peculiar
Strange
Uncommon
Affected
Forced
Pretended
From Old French *unnaturel* (not natural), from Latin *in-* (not) + *nātūrālis* (natural).
The word 'unnatural' has been used since the 14th century, often referencing actions or states contrary to the laws of nature or moral codes.
Memory tip
Imagine something completely out of place, like a penguin in a desert.