What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
surreal
Example
The movie had a surreal quality to it, with its strange characters and settings. [surreal: adjective]
Example
It was surreal to see my childhood home completely transformed into a modern art museum. [surreal: adjective]
unreal
Example
The special effects in the movie made the creatures look unreal. [unreal: adjective]
Example
It's unreal how much traffic there is during rush hour. [unreal: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unreal is more commonly used than surreal in everyday language. Unreal is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while surreal is less common and is often used in artistic or creative contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between surreal and unreal?
Both surreal and unreal can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but surreal may be considered more formal due to its association with artistic or creative works.
