unreasonable

[ uhn-ree-zuh-nuh-buhl, -reez-nuh- ]

adjective

1. not reasonable or rational; acting at variance with or contrary to reason; not guided by reason or sound judgment; irrational:

   an unreasonable person.

   Synonyms: silly, foolish, senseless

2. not in accordance with practical realities, as attitude or behavior; inappropriate:

   His Bohemianism was an unreasonable way of life for one so rich.

   Synonyms: nonsensical, stupid, absurd, preposterous, silly, foolish, senseless

3. excessive, immoderate, or exorbitant; unconscionable:

   an unreasonable price; unreasonable demands.

   Synonyms: extravagant

4. not having the faculty of reason.

unreasonable

/ ʌnˈriːznəbəl /

adjective

1. immoderate; excessive

   unreasonable demands

2. refusing to listen to reason
3. lacking reason or judgment

Derived Forms

• unˈreasonably, adverb
• unˈreasonableness, noun

Other Words From

• un·reason·a·ble·ness noun
• un·reason·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unreasonable¹

First recorded in 1300–50, unreasonable is from the Middle English word unresonabel. See un- ¹, reasonable

Example Sentences

This was not an entirely unreasonable characterization, given that his public speaking was so unsteady that he had to step down from the ticket after forgetting what he was talking about every 15 seconds at the first presidential debate.

From Slate

Though he could not “conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health,” Chen wrote, he still determined that it posed an “unreasonable risk” of harm.

From Los Angeles Times

The indictment accused Hankison of depriving Taylor of the right to be free from unreasonable seizures and depriving her neighbours of the right to be free from the deprivation of liberty without due process of law.

From BBC

Judge Gordon-Saker ruled that while there was a "failure to be transparent", it was not "sufficiently unreasonable or improper" to constitute misconduct.

From BBC

Under California law, the governor can block the board’s decision to grant parole if he finds evidence that the brothers’ release posed an “unreasonable risk to the public.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arbitrary
• excessive
• exorbitant
• extreme
• illegitimate
• improper
• inordinate
• senseless
• unconscionable
• undue
• unfair
• unjust
• unjustifiable
• unlawful
• unwarranted
• wrongful