unrealistic

USAGE SUMMARY

"unrealistic" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when talking about an idea, situation, plan, activity, or expectation that is not possible or not likely to happen. For example, "Sally thought her plan to open a business with no capital was unrealistic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Turning to Paul Le Guen was bold, imaginative and seemingly unrealistic but demonstrative of a degree of audacity that Murray has often matched with persuasiveness to great effect.

The Guardian - Sport

One UK study found that almost two-thirds of children reported having at least one "psychotic-like experience" in their lives, a category that also includes unshiftable and unrealistic beliefs and fears.

The Guardian

People I know are disillusioned with the system and want PR and don't believe in mainstream politics and I realise that although there is always room for improvement and modernisation, politics is always going to involve compromise and I feel those of my age who hold unrealistic ideological notions are wasting the opportunity many people across the world are denied.

The Guardian

Judging by this research, those unrealistic expectations may also hold for men.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, it is my job to help the children achieve without feeling unrealistic pressure.

The Guardian

As my friend Lilith Gütler wrote on Facebook: "I'm sorry, it's hard to be 'proud' of someone who has had the financial means to achieve unrealistic goals for girls like us".

The Guardian - Opinion

That doesn't sound too unrealistic, does it?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Then there are also many people who I think believe, or have persuaded themselves, that climate change is just another fad, exaggerated by scientists who just want more money for their research, or environmentalists who over-react to small threats or are unrealistic about where their bread is buttered.

The Guardian

Social and mass media often promote unrealistic life expectations and engender a persecutory perfectionism within young adults.

The Guardian

Dr Mark Porter, the leader of the British Medical Association, criticised the "outlandish and unrealistic election pledges" made by all the parties.

The Guardian

There has been some criticism from readers that the Hamsterdam storyline is unrealistic, with some even comparing it to McNulty's antics with the homeless in series five for breaking the show's informal rule that "nothing should happen on screen that hasn't in some fashion happened on the streets".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing goals or plans, use "unrealistic" to clearly communicate that they are not feasible within current constraints or capabilities.

Common error

Avoid using "unrealistic" when you mean "unreasonable". "Unrealistic" refers to something not grounded in reality or possibility, while "unreasonable" refers to something unfair or excessive. For example, an unrealistic goal is to become a millionaire in a month; an unreasonable demand is to work 24 hours a day.

Linguistic Context

The word "unrealistic" functions primarily as an adjective. As supported by Ludwig AI, it modifies nouns to describe something not based on reality or unlikely to happen. For instance, "unrealistic goals" or "unrealistic expectations."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unrealistic" is a versatile adjective used to describe ideas, plans, or expectations that lack grounding in reality or feasibility. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. Its function is to express skepticism or doubt, with a neutral formality suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Usage is very common across diverse domains such as news, business, and general discourse. Common mistakes involve confusing it with "unreasonable", which denotes unfairness rather than infeasibility. When employing "unrealistic", consider the context and intended nuance to ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Impractical

Emphasizes the difficulty of implementing something in a real-world situation.

Infeasible

Focuses on the impossibility of achieving something due to practical limitations.

Unachievable

Highlights the inability to reach a specific goal or outcome.

Unattainable

Stresses the impossibility of obtaining or acquiring something.

Impossible

Indicates a complete lack of possibility.

Far-fetched

Suggests a scenario or idea that is highly improbable and difficult to believe.

Overoptimistic

Implies an excessive level of hopefulness that is not grounded in reality.

Visionary but impractical

Acknowledges the creativity and potential of an idea while emphasizing its lack of practicality.

Divorced from reality

Emphasizes the lack of connection to real-world circumstances.

Pie in the sky

Describes something as an unrealistic or fanciful hope or plan.

FAQs

How can I use "unrealistic" in a sentence?

"Unrealistic" is typically used to describe expectations, goals, or plans that are not achievable. For example, "Hoping for immediate success with no effort is "unrealistic"."

What can I say instead of "unrealistic"?

You can use alternatives like "impractical", "infeasible", or "unattainable" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "unrealistic expectations" or "unreasonable expectations"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. "Unrealistic expectations" are expectations that are not grounded in reality, while "unreasonable expectations" are expectations that are excessive or unfair. Choose the phrase that best fits the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "unrealistic" and "idealistic"?

"Unrealistic" describes something that is not practical or likely to happen, while "idealistic" describes someone who has high principles and hopes for perfection, which may not always be attainable. An idealistic plan might be considered "unrealistic".