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  • Word comparison: subconsciously vs. unconsciously

subconsciously vs. unconsciously

subconsciously

adverb

  1. beneath or beyond the conscious mind:

    Your brain subconsciously processes a lot of the day’s information while you sleep.

  2. without conscious understanding or desire:

    I grew up subconsciously internalizing the stereotypes I saw in movies, TV shows, and advertisements.

    I heard footsteps approaching behind me, and my pace quickened subconsciously.

unconsciously

adverb

  1. unintentionally and without realizing what one is doing:

    Unconsciously, almost in spite of herself, she sighed.

  2. at a level below that of conscious thought:

    Children are unconsciously influenced by the appearance and personalities of their parents to choose partners who resemble them.

  3. without any awareness, sensation, or cognition at all:

    As her mind drifted into a cloud of darkness and she lost all feeling, her body unconsciously fought the force of gravity pushing against it.