absurd

[ab-surd, -zurd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR absurd ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false: an absurd explanation.

noun

the quality or condition of existing in a meaningless and irrational world.

Origin of absurd

First recorded in 1550–60, absurd is from the Latin word absurdus out of tune, uncouth, ridiculous. See ab-, surd

Related formsab·surd·ly, adverbab·surd·ness, nounsu·per·ab·surd, adjectivesu·per·ab·surd·ly, adverbsu·per·ab·surd·ness, noun

Synonyms for absurd

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR absurd ON THESAURUS.COM

1. irrational, silly, ludicrous, nonsensical.

Synonym study

1. 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.

Antonyms for absurd

1. logical, sensible.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for absurdly

desperately, furiously, crazily, passionately, violently, hastily, intensely, frantically, excitedly, recklessly, energetically, hysterically, jokingly, amusingly, stupidly, mistakenly, unwisely, insanely, dementedly, exceedingly

Examples from the Web for absurdly

Contemporary Examples of absurdly

The problem runs far deeper, to an absurdly narrow legal definition of ‘corruption’ that throws democracy on the trash heap.
Undo Citizens United? We’d Only Scratch the Surface
Jedediah Purdy
November 12, 2014
Absurdly, even our battlefield troops must now consider the risk of being sued in UK courts by enemy fighters.
Britain’s PM Cameron And His Awful Assault on Human Rights Court
Nico Hines
October 3, 2014
Even a rapid descent has been painted, absurdly, as a “low and quiet” run under the radar.
MH370’s Pilots Behaved As They Should in an Emergency, Not as Sinister Killers
Clive Irving
March 24, 2014
“Galactic” was an absurdly romantic tag to attach to the program.
Branson’s Galactic Obstacles: Tom Bower Puts a Damper on Virgin’s Space Flight Dreams
Clive Irving
January 30, 2014
To establishment Republicans and Democrats, that sounds like an absurdly narrow and implausible vision.
Why The Zombie Tea Party Won’t Stay Dead
James Poulos
October 24, 2013

Historical Examples of absurdly

Absurdly few to fight the Mercutians, but Hilary counseled patience.
Slaves of Mercury
Nat Schachner
They had posed themselves so absurdly close to the world of things as they are.
The Harbor
Ernest Poole
He was absurdly grieved that his gun was still with his missing baggage.
The Law-Breakers
Ridgwell Cullum
It is that you and Meg are both so absurdly grave about it, when there's nothing to be grave about at all.
Howards End
E. M. Forster
If they are Mrs. Berry's, as you absurdly pretend to think they are, again you have no claim.
Fair Harbor
Joseph Crosby Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for absurdly

absurd

adjective

at variance with reason; manifestly false

ludicrous; ridiculous

noun

the absurd (sometimes capital) philosophy the conception of the world, esp in Existentialist thought, as neither designed nor predictable but irrational and meaningless

Word Origin for absurd

C16: via French from Latin absurdus dissonant, senseless, from ab- 1 (intensive) + surdus dull-sounding, indistinct

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for absurdly

absurd

adj.

1550s, from Middle French absurde (16c.), from Latin absurdus "out of tune; foolish" (see absurdity). The main modern sense (also present in Latin) is a figurative one, "out of harmony with reason or propriety." Related: Absurdly; absurdness.