What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
surrealist
Example
Salvador Dali was a famous surrealist painter. [surrealist: adjective]
Example
The movie had a surrealist quality to it, with strange and unexpected scenes. [surrealist: noun]
Example
I had a surrealist experience last night where I was flying through the clouds. [surrealist: adjective]
unreal
Example
The special effects in the movie made the creatures look unreal. [unreal: adjective]
Example
It's unreal how much money he spent on that car. [unreal: adjective]
Example
Her reaction to the news seemed unreal, like she was acting. [unreal: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unreal is more commonly used than surrealist in everyday language. Unreal is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while surrealist is less common and refers specifically to the art movement of surrealism.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between surrealist and unreal?
Surrealist is more formal and specific, making it appropriate for academic or artistic contexts. Unreal is more informal and general, making it appropriate for everyday conversation or casual writing.
