unreasonableun‧rea‧son‧a‧ble /ʌnˈriːzənəbəl/ ●●○ adjective 
I think he’s being unreasonable. Don’t let your boss make unreasonable demands on you.it is unreasonable to do something It’s unreasonable to expect you to work seven days a week. It’s not unreasonable to ask him to help you.2unreasonable prices, costs etc are too high—unreasonably adverb: unreasonably high prices
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- unreasonable expectations
- Don't you think it's a little unreasonable to charge someone $75 just for parking their car?
- Even the most caring parents will sometimes make unreasonable demands on their children.
- I don't think the amount of homework they get is unreasonable.
- I think your attitude is most unreasonable.
- It's unreasonable to expect people to pay for something they haven't even seen yet.
- It didn't seem like an unreasonable request.
- It is not unreasonable for parents to want schools to reinforce the values children are taught at home.
- It is possible for telephone companies to make profit without charging unreasonable rates.
- Now he's just being unreasonable.
- She divorced her husband on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour.
- Some news media have described the government's actions as excessive and unreasonable.
- I don't know why you have such an unreasonable reaction to it.
- It is unreasonable to expect them to anticipate what additional rights they ought to have.
- Nevertheless, to require that all educating be done in public schools was considered arbitrary and unreasonable.
- Now it is not possible to give a confident answer to the question whether the delay was unreasonable.
- She knew she was being unreasonable, and she was worried she might alienate David.
- The trial court found that her demands were not petty or unreasonable, since they involved practices she felt were racially discriminatory.
- Within limits this seems a not unreasonable request.
Longman Language Activatornot treating people in a way that is reasonable or equal
not treating everyone equally, or not treating people in a way that most people think is right: · The present welfare system is grossly unfair.· unfair laws· Do you think I'm being unfair?· I don't want to be unfair, but you have to admit she behaved stupidly.it's/that's not fair spoken: · Why do I always have to do the laundry? It's not fair!· That's not fair - it puts me at a disadvantage!it is unfair that/it is not fair that: · It seems very unfair that she got all the blame.it is unfair/not fair to do something: · It's not fair to have a dog if you're out at work all day.· I told him it wasn't fair to treat her any differently.unfair/not fair to/on: · This sort of arrangement is not fair on the players, and not fair on the fans.· The tax laws are very unfair to the self-employednot fair/unfair of somebody (to do something): · It's unfair of you to judge all young people in the same way.
not fair or not sensible: · It is possible for telephone companies to make profit without charging unreasonable rates.· Some news media have described the government's actions as excessive and unreasonable.· She divorced her husband on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour.· It didn't seem like an unreasonable request.it is unreasonable (for somebody) to do something: · It's unreasonable to expect people to pay for something they haven't even seen yet.· It is not unreasonable for parents to want schools to reinforce the values children are taught at home.
a punishment or criticism that is undeserved is unfair because you do not deserve it: · He's come in for a lot of criticism, most of it completely undeserved.· Unfortunately, Lamarck has developed an undeserved reputation as a loser.· an undeserved and unwarranted attack
unfairly against, or unfairly in favour of a particular group: · The system is so biased that many citizens simply do not register to vote.biased towards/biased in favour of: · Export policy has been biased towards overseas customers.· Much of the information the clinics gave people was incomplete and biased in favour of educated middle-class clients.biased against: · University acceptance policies seem to be biased against minorities.
not fair or right according to the principles or ideas of a particular society: · They didn't mind breaking the law because they believed the law was unjust.· an unjust and pointless war· The legal aid charity has helped overturn some notoriously unjust verdicts.
British /favor American to treat one person in a group better than others, when you should treat all of them the same: · Many teachers favour boys, often without even realizing it.favour somebody over somebody: · The Federal Republic denied that its policies favored any race over another.
not reasonable or necessary · I don't deny that what I did was wrong, but I had no choice at the time.· Do you think violence is always wrong, even in self-defence?wrong with · There's nothing wrong with making money, is there? be wrong (of somebody) to do something · It is wrong to treat people this way -- they should be given a chance to defend themselves.· It was wrong of Sophie to take the money without asking.
something such as criticism or bad treatment of someone that is unjustified is unfair and cannot be shown to have a good reason: · Many disabled people suffer from unjustified discrimination when they apply for jobs.· Brian has the reputation, unjustified in my opinion, of being a bit of a bore.totally/completely unjustified: · I think your criticisms of Mr Ward are completely unjustified.
not fair, reasonable, or true: · It is morally unjustifiable to punish a whole class for the actions of one or two of its members.· unjustifiable accusations
unreasonable demands, requests, orders etc are unfair and not based on any good reason: · I think your attitude is most unreasonable.· I don't think the amount of homework they get is unreasonable.· Even the most caring parents will sometimes make unreasonable demands on their children.it is unreasonable to do something: · Don't you think it's a little unreasonable to charge someone $75 just for parking their car?
an unwarranted action or criticism is not deserved and is not based on any good reason: · Many sportsmen and women consider random drug-testing to be an unwarranted invasion of their privacy.· His attorney called the punishment 'excessively severe' and 'unwarranted'. unwarranted assumptions/beliefs/conclusions: · He warned members of the public not to jump to any unwarranted conclusions about the tragedy.
done for no good reason and causing unnecessary harm or offence: · He has criticised the film industry for its use of gratuitous sex and violence.· There's no point in exchanging gratuitous insults with them.
an unprovoked attack or criticism is directed at someone who did nothing to deserve it: · A man died in an apparently unprovoked attack in central Oxford last night.· Troops have been accused of unprovoked aggression against innocent civilians.
if someone does something without good reason , they do not have a good reason for doing it, and this may lead to trouble or punishment: · Anyone who is late without good reason will be punished.· An employer is unlikely to dismiss an employee without good reason.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Don’t let your boss make unreasonable demands on you.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Don’t let your boss make unreasonable demands on you.· It’s unreasonable to expect a tenant to pay for repairs to the outside of the house.
(=expectations that are too high)· I think you had unrealistic expectations of what could be achieved in the time.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Acknowledge your jealousy, laugh at your unreasonable behaviour, and don't take yourself so seriously.· Remember that unreasonable behaviour on your employer's part will not amount to constructive dismissal if the contract is not broken.· Bloody-mindedness may sometimes amount to contributory fault, as may any particularly unreasonable behaviour.
· Was she making unreasonable demands on Barbara?· Specifically, they complained that the corporate and regional offices often made unreasonable demands on those in the field.· Tam knew it was an unreasonable demand, especially on his last night at home.· Consequently, they felt their superiors were making somewhat unreasonable demands.· Price Others often make unreasonable demands on you.· This happens when a loving parent suddenly makes what seem like utterly unreasonable demands and terrifying threats.· Moreover, Purefoy may have made unreasonable demands on those who worked for him.
· The covenant was held to be an unreasonable restraint of trade.
WORD FAMILYnounreasonreasoningreasonablenessadjectivereasonable ≠ unreasonablereasonedverbreasonadverbreasonably ≠ unreasonably
1not fair or sensible: I think he’s being unreasonable. Don’t let your boss make unreasonable demands on you.it is unreasonable to do something It’s unreasonable to expect you to work seven days a week. It’s not unreasonable to ask him to help you.2unreasonable prices, costs etc are too high—unreasonably adverb: unreasonably high prices