English Dictionary

UNREASONABLE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unreasonable mean? 

UNREASONABLE (adjective)
  The adjective UNREASONABLE has 2 senses:

1. not reasonable; not showing good judgmentplay

2. beyond normal limitsplay

  Familiarity information: UNREASONABLE used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


UNREASONABLE (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Not reasonable; not showing good judgment

Similar:

counterintuitive (contrary to what common sense would suggest)

indefensible; untenable ((of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified)

mindless; reasonless; senseless (not marked by the use of reason)

undue; unjustified; unwarranted (lacking justification or authorization)

Also:

illogical; unlogical (lacking in correct logical relation)

immoderate (beyond reasonable limits)

irrational (not consistent with or using reason)

Attribute:

reasonableness (goodness of reason and judgment)

Antonym:

reasonable (showing reason or sound judgment)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Beyond normal limits

Synonyms:

excessive; inordinate; undue; unreasonable

Context example:

unreasonable demands

Similar:

immoderate (beyond reasonable limits)


 Context examples 


The thing was so unreasonable, so wanton.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Heaven knows I don't mean to be unreasonable, aunt!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

She absolutely refused to allow me, which I then thought most unreasonable.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But, alas! it was not such a home, she had not such a welcome, as—she checked herself; she was unreasonable.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

No doubt you are right, and it is unreasonable for us to expect you to act unless we give you our entire confidence.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was unreasonable that he should die after all he had undergone.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

In adults, the individual recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable.

(Phobia, NCI Thesaurus)

I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed, it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The individual recognizes the fear as excessive or unreasonable.

(Phobia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

She was nervous and worn out with watching and worry, and in that unreasonable frame of mind which the best of mothers occasionally experience when domestic cares oppress them.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"A rolling stone gathers no moss." (English proverb)

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"An unshod mocks a shoe." (Arabic proverb)

"Think before acting and whilst acting still think." (Dutch proverb)



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