unnatural
/ʌn'nætʃrəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression
- 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
- not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature
- an unnatural death
- the child's unnatural interest in death