adjective
surreal
suh-REE-ul/səˈriːəl/
Strange and dreamlike rather than ordinary or real.
The floating teacup and staircase ending in a cloud form a surreal scene.
Etymology
“Beyond realism” points to the art movement behind the word. Something surreal is bizarre and dreamlike, as though it belonged in surrealist art rather than ordinary reality.
In context
Paprika fully embraces the absurdity of the subconscious, which gives us a beautiful yet unsettling result. By the way, if you enjoy Satoshi Kon's surreal style, we definitely recommend Paranoia Agent.
More examples
- Hearing my voice in the movie is a surreal experience.
- The painting shows a surreal landscape of floating houses.
- Walking through my abandoned childhood school feels more surreal with every step.
Forms
surreal · more surreal · most surreal
surreally adverb — In a strange and dreamlike way.
Similar words
- dreamlike
- Emphasizes resemblance to a dream without necessarily suggesting strangeness.
- bizarre
- Emphasizes extreme oddness rather than a dreamlike quality.
- unreal
- Can mean literally nonexistent, not just strange and dreamlike.