Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not natural; artificial or forced: Describes behavior, speech, or appearance that seems contrived, insincere, or lacking in spontaneity.
   • Contrary to the ordinary course of nature; abnormal: Describes something that deviates from what is considered normal, typical, or in accordance with natural laws.
   • Lacking natural human feelings; monstrous: Describes actions, crimes, or characteristics considered to be shockingly cruel or devoid of normal compassion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Artificial/Forced):
  • Her smile seemed unnatural and strained during the interview.
  • He spoke in an unnatural, high-pitched voice when he was nervous.
• Adjective (Abnormal/Contrary to Nature):
  • The scientist studied the plant's unnatural growth pattern.
  • An unnatural silence fell over the normally bustling city.
• Adjective (Monstrous/Lacking Feeling):
  • The villain in the story had an unnatural hatred for children.
  • Committing such an act against one's own family is unnatural.

Advanced Usage

• "to die an unnatural death": to die by means other than old age or natural illness (e.g., by violence, accident, or suicide).
  • The police suspected foul play because he died an unnatural death.
• Used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize a severe deviation from a moral or natural standard.
  • The dictator's unnatural cruelty knew no bounds.

Variants and Related Words

• Unnaturally (adverb): in an unnatural manner.
  • The room was unnaturally quiet.
• Unnaturalness (noun): the quality or state of being unnatural.
  • The unnaturalness of the situation made everyone uneasy.

Synonyms

• Artificial: Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally; imitative.
• Forced: Produced or maintained with effort; not spontaneous.
• Abnormal: Deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable.
• Contrived: Deliberately created rather than arising naturally; artificial.
• Monstrous: Having the ugly or frightening appearance of a monster; inhumanly or outrageously evil.

Antonyms

• Natural: Existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind.
• Normal: Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
• Genuine: Truly what something is said to be; authentic.
• Spontaneous: Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse without premeditation.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Against nature: Contrary to natural laws or instincts; synonymous with 'unnatural' in moral contexts.
  • Such greed is against nature.
• A forced smile/laugh: A smile or laugh that is not genuine, demonstrating an unnatural expression.
  • She greeted him with a forced smile.

Adjective

1. speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression
2. not normal; not typical or usual or regular or conforming to a norm
   • abnormal powers of concentration
   • abnormal amounts of rain
   • abnormal circumstances
   • an abnormal interest in food
3. not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
   • an unnatural death
   • the child's unnatural interest in death