unreasonable

adjective

un·​rea·​son·​able
ˌən-ˈrēz-nə-bəl,
-ˈrē-zᵊn-ə-bəl How to pronounce unreasonable (audio)
1
a
: not governed by or acting according to reason
unreasonable people
b
: not conformable to reason : absurd
unreasonable beliefs
2
: exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation
working under unreasonable pressure
unreasonableness
ˌən-ˈrēz-nə-bəl-nəs
-ˈrē-zᵊn-ə-bəl- How to pronounce unreasonable (audio)
noun
unreasonably
ˌən-ˈrēz-nə-blē
-ˈrē-zᵊn-ə-blē How to pronounce unreasonable (audio)
adverb

Examples of unreasonable in a Sentence

I told him that I wouldn't pay unless he sent me a replacement. Am I being unreasonable? You are entitled to compensation for unreasonable delays.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At Soar, students are able to move around and be supported as individuals, rather than being forced to comply with conventional classroom standards that can be developmentally unreasonable. Kerry McDonald, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Bill Nicholson Martinez Congress must retain constitutional authority Will Congress stand up to President-elect Donald Trump’s unreasonable request to make recess appointments? Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Nov. 2024 Deprivation of rights specifically refers to being free from unreasonable search and seizure, established in the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Austin Mullen, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024 As Barca laboured and eventually failed to land some of its transfer targets such as Nico Williams, the proposal for Casado might not have seemed too unreasonable at the time. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unreasonable 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of unreasonable was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near unreasonable

Cite this Entry

“Unreasonable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unreasonable. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

unreasonable

adjective
un·​rea·​son·​able
: not reasonable : beyond what can be accepted: as
a
: clearly inappropriate, excessive, or harmful in degree or kind
an unreasonable delay
an unreasonable restraint of trade
b
: lacking justification in fact or circumstance
an unreasonable inference
especially : irrational sense b
the agency decision was unreasonable
c
: not supported by a warrant or by a valid exception to a warrant requirement (as when there is reasonable suspicion) and therefore unconstitutional
the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violatedU.S. Constitution amend. IV
see also search, seizure
unreasonableness noun
unreasonably adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unreasonable

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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