Kafkaesque

[kahf-kuh-esk]

adjective

1. relating to, characteristic of, or resembling the literary work of Franz Kafka; marked by a senseless, disorienting, often menacing complexity: Kafkaesque bureaucracies.

   the Kafkaesque terror of the endless interrogations;

   Kafkaesque bureaucracies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Kafkaesque¹

First recorded in 1945–50; Kafka + -esque

Example Sentences

His Kafkaesque phone call about his employee plan is almost too realistic to find funny.

From Los Angeles Times

People generally use "Kafkaesque" as a metaphor, perhaps to describe an especially aggravating trip to the DMV.

From Salon

“It’s creating the potential for some Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmares every time they make a mistake — and there will be mistakes.”

From Los Angeles Times

At Slate, Mark Joseph Stern explains this is worse than Kafkaesque horror:

From Salon

I thought things could get no worse than this Kafkaesque blackhole.

From Salon

When To Use

What does Kafkaesque mean?

Kafkaesque is used to describe situations that are disorientingly and illogically complex in a surreal or nightmarish way.Kafkaesque comes from the name of author Franz Kafka, who lived from 1883 to 1924. It can be used to describe any situation or literature that resembles his work, which often involves characters navigating bizarre bureaucracies (unnecessarily complicated government systems full of confusing and contradictory procedures and paperwork).Example: I had a nightmare about trying to get my driver’s license at the DMV that was positively Kafkaesque—I had to fill out 18 forms in a language I didn’t understand, and the clerk was a giant lobster.