Unvernünftigen

Unvernünftig is a German adjective meaning not reasonable or lacking prudence. It is used to describe behavior, decisions, or plans that appear to have no solid rational basis, foresight, or common sense. The prefix un- marks negation of the word vernünftig, which itself denotes sensible, well-considered judgment.

In usage, unvernünftig describes actions or ideas that are seen as imprudent, irrational, or risky. It can carry a critical tone, but is not as strong as terms like töricht or dumm. The adjective can function attributively or predicatively, with inflected forms depending on gender, number, and case. For example: unvernünftig ist es, so viel Geld zu investieren; unvernünftige Entscheidungen; wir trafen eine unvernünftige Wahl. In the plural dative, the form unvernünftigen occurs: mit unvernünftigen Entscheidungen.

Grammatical notes: unvernünftig behaves like a regular adjective. In attributive position before plural nouns without a definite article, the form is unvernünftige; in phrases with a determiner, endings vary by case. The word can also appear as a nominalized form when capitalized as die Unvernünftigen to mean “unreasonable people.”

Related terms include synonyms such as unsinnig, töricht, and unklug, while the antonym is vernünftig. The word is common in everyday speech as well as editorial or analytical writing when evaluating actions, policies, or risk assessments.