Unrealistic

Unrealistic is an adjective used to describe something that is unlikely to be true or feasible given current evidence, constraints, or knowledge. It can apply to plans, expectations, depictions, or beliefs. In everyday language, people call a deadline, budget, or performance target unrealistic when it disregards essential constraints such as time, money, resources, or physical limits.

Context and uses: In project management and forecasting, ideas built on unrealistic assumptions are criticized because they increase the risk of failure or disappointment. In design and engineering, requirements that violate known constraints can produce unusable or unsafe results. In media and fiction, unrealistic elements may be deliberate stylistic choices, such as fantasy, science fiction, or surreal imagery.

Psychology and behavior science also use related ideas, such as unrealistic optimism, where people overestimate positive outcomes and underestimate risks, or unrealistic belief in control. In everyday discourse, labeling something as unrealistic can reflect normative judgments about practicality rather than objective truth.

Feasibility is often evaluated by constraints like resources, physics, regulations, and time. The term does not imply moral judgment, though it can carry evaluative weight in discussion about goals, planning, or policy. Distinguishing between aspirational yet feasible goals and truly unrealistic ones depends on evidence, risk tolerance, and evolving technology.

Overall, unrealistic describes a mismatch between an idea or depiction and what is realistically achievable under given conditions, and it is a common facet of planning, storytelling, and critical analysis.