unreasonable
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
not fair or sensible; asking for more than what is right or possible.
exceeding the bounds of what is reasonable, moderate, or appropriate in a given context.
Simple“It is unreasonable to expect the staff to work twelve hours without a break.”
In context“The landlord's demand for a fifty percent rent increase was deemed entirely unreasonable by the local housing tribunal.”
Usageoften used to describe demands, prices, or expectations.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
refusing to listen to reason or change your mind even when you are wrong.
not guided by or based on good sense; exhibiting a refusal to engage with logical arguments.
Simple“He became very unreasonable when I tried to explain why the plan wouldn't work.”
In context“The negotiator found the opposing party increasingly unreasonable as they refused to acknowledge the statistical evidence presented to them.”
Synonyms
From Middle English unresonable, equivalent to un- + reasonable, originally partly after Latin irratiōnābilis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.