unnaturally

Unnaturally is an adverb meaning in a way that is not in accordance with nature or with what is expected to occur in a given situation. It often conveys a sense of artificiality, abnormality, or a departure from typical natural behavior or appearance.

The term is commonly used to describe manner, state, or condition that seems contrived or unnatural. In everyday use, unnaturally can intensify adjectives or verbs, as in phrases like "unnaturally quiet" or "walked unnaturally fast," signaling that the deviation is noticeable or deliberate. The word can carry a negative or suspicious connotation, but it may also appear in neutral descriptive or literary contexts to emphasize peculiarity or strain.

Etymology and grammar: unnaturally is formed from the adjective unnatural (prefix un- plus natural) followed by the adverbial suffix -ly. As an adverb, it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, describing the manner or degree of an attribute rather than a noun. The related adjective is unnatural, and related nouns include naturalness and unnaturality, though the adverb is the most common form for describing deviations in manner or state.

Usage considerations: unnaturally often appears in literary, journalistic, or evaluative writing to highlight irregularity or artificiality. It should be used when the writer intends to signal something that feels contrived, atypical, or contrary to expected natural behavior. Synonyms include artificial, contrived, or strange, while natural and naturally provide a direct contrast.

See also: natural, unnatural, naturally, unnaturalness, unnaturality.