absurd
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
at variance with reason; manifestly false
-
ludicrous; ridiculous
noun
Synonym Usage
Absurd, ridiculous, preposterous all mean inconsistent with reason or common sense. Absurd means utterly opposed to truth or reason: an absurd claim. Ridiculous implies that something is fit only to be laughed at, perhaps contemptuously: a ridiculous suggestion. Preposterous implies an extreme of foolishness: a preposterous proposal.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of absurd
First recorded in 1550–60, absurd is from the Latin word absurdus out of tune, uncouth, ridiculous. See ab-, surd
Explanation
Something absurd is really silly, absolutely ridiculous, or total nonsense. Thinking you can wear flip flops and a bikini to the North Pole is an absurd idea, for example. If you run into someone dressed in an absurd outfit or watch a movie full of absurd jokes, you'll probably have a good laugh. But find yourself dealing with the absurd; you'll likely be stuck in a depressing existential crisis. The absurd describes a state of being where human life has no purpose and everything is completely irrational.
Vocabulary lists containing absurd
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"A Walk to the Jetty," Vocabulary from a novel excerpt
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The Pigman
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It’s absurd when I have to call Ysabel Jurado’s office for help, instead of my actual representative,” the 34-year-old East L.A. native said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Lam said the idea that Ahmed could not be deported due to a "decades-old law is as just absurd as it is sickening".
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
The book’s 400 pages of honest, funny and absurd storytelling seem to fly by.
From Salon ● Jun. 27, 2026
When most of us are trying to reduce our time in front of screens, it seems absurd to mount them right in front of our eyeballs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
He quickly thought up an absurd excuse—he’d ask whether his father would be coming home for lunch.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
