Word
unreasonable
Phoneticsun·rea·son·able, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈɹiznəbəɫ/
UK/ʌnɹˈiːzənəbəl/
In Japanese
absurd; unreasonable; nonsensical
absurd; unreasonable; ridiculous
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definitions
01unfair or excessive
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not fair or sensible; asking for more than what is right or possible.
adj. exceeding the bounds of what is reasonable, moderate, or appropriate in a given context.
“It is unreasonable to expect the staff to work twelve hours without a break.”
“The landlord's demand for a fifty percent rent increase was deemed entirely unreasonable by the local housing tribunal.”
Usage
often used to describe demands, prices, or expectations.
Antonyms
02stubborn or irrational
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. refusing to listen to reason or change your mind even when you are wrong.
adj. not guided by or based on good sense; exhibiting a refusal to engage with logical arguments.
“He became very unreasonable when I tried to explain why the plan wouldn't work.”
“The negotiator found the opposing party increasingly unreasonable as they refused to acknowledge the statistical evidence presented to them.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“It comes after US-Canada trade talks collapsed late last week, with each side accusing the other of making unreasonable last-minute demands.” “The judge has ruled that the group presented their claims in a way that was "unreasonable to a high degree".” Etymology
From Middle English unresonable, equivalent to un- + reasonable, originally partly after Latin irratiōnābilis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Pre-1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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