Can surreal be used in a bad way?

“Surreal” is often used to describe something shocking. People might use the word when they cannot believe -- or do not want to believe -- reality. "Surreal" can have a negative or positive meaning. For example, the Grand Canyon or a trip to the Moon could be described as surreal.

3 Answers. Surreal is neither negative nor positive. It can easily go either way.

: marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream. also : unbelievable, fantastic.

By understanding tragedy as “surreal,” we seem to be saying “this cannot really be happening.” It's why so many of these “surreal” incidents—whether 9/11 or Sandy Hook—have become ripe for conspiracy theories. Some people find more solace in refusing to believe that these events could and did happen.

The phrase "it feels surreal" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when trying to describe a situation or experience that is strange, dreamlike, or unreal. For example, "Seeing my child grow up so fast has felt surreal; it feels like only yesterday I held her in my arms.".

The adjective surreal comes from Surrealism, a movement that produced films, writing, painting, and other art forms that often contained irrational, disjointed images. So, surreal describes something that's a bizarre mix of elements, often jarring and seemingly nonsensical.

strange; not seeming real; like a dream: Driving through the total darkness was a slightly surreal experience. Synonyms. dreamlike.

He made the details of the setting so vividly real that they became almost surreal. It was a surreal experience by the end of it. It's all rather dreamlike and surreal.

Examples of 'surreal' in a sentence

The characteristics of surrealism include strange images or bizarre juxtapositions, unconsciousness as a valid reality, dream-like artwork or symbolic images, automatism techniques to create random effects, distorted figures or biomorphic shapes, depiction of perverse sexuality, and chance or spontaneity.

It was a surreal experience to have sparked a minor storm. It was something of a surreal moment. But mostly it was just a bit surreal. He made the details of the setting so vividly real that they became almost surreal.

adjective. Britannica Dictionary definition of SURREAL. more surreal; most surreal : very strange or unusual : having the quality of a dream. a surreal atmosphere/experience.

Surreal Definition

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ''surreal'' as meaning ''marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream. '' Things that are surreal are strange, fantastical, difficult to understand, or bizarre. They may be emotionally unsettling or hair-raising in their absurdity.

having the disorienting, hallucinatory quality of a dream; unreal; fantastic: surreal complexities of the bureaucracy.

Surreal love is a term that is often used to describe a type of love that is not quite real, but is instead a dreamlike.

By definition, surrealism seems to separate out reality from unreality. It seems contradictory for the surreal to inhabit the same space as the real, but surrealists are able to show both at the same time in order to change our view of reality.

: marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream. also : unbelievable, fantastic. surreal sums of money.

The word “surreal” didn't exist until around 1924, after a group of European poets, painters and filmmakers founded a movement they called Surrealism. They sought to access the truths of the unconscious mind by breaking down rational thought.

Surrealism, noun: Pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought.

adjective. resembling a dream. “as irrational and surreal as a dream” synonyms: dreamlike unreal. not actually such; being or seeming fanciful or imaginary.

Merriam-Webster's definition for “surreal” is an adjective meaning “marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream,” or “unbelievable.” We might think of a dictionary as an objective tool, a book that provides the meanings of words.

Having an oddly dreamlike quality. American Heritage. Of or like a dream; fantastic, hallucinatory, bizarre, etc.

Surreal is neither negative nor positive. It can easily go either way.

1. : marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream. also : unbelievable, fantastic.

When it comes back to the surface, it's a little cold, thanks to it being underground for so long, but the surreal nature outweighs any chill factor.

Surrealism was defined by an attitude of experimentation and openness to possibilities and unexpected outcomes, it rebelled against the limitations of the rational mind, and, therefore, repressive social norms.

Unreal is something imaginary, or can be an illusion. That is, something not real. "She had unreal expectations of her new job." Surreal means something that is bizarre. "It was a surreal experience walking in Tokyo with not a soul in sight."