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absurd

[ab-surd, -zurd]
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adjective
  1. utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false: an absurd explanation.
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noun
  1. the quality or condition of existing in a meaningless and irrational world.
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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

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

1. logical, sensible.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for absurdness

Historical Examples

  • The Key to the Brontë Works shows the absurdness of such a claim.

    The Key to the Bront Works

    John Malham-Dembleby

British Dictionary definitions for absurdness

absurd

adjective
  1. at variance with reason; manifestly false
  2. ludicrous; ridiculous
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noun
  1. the absurd (sometimes capital) philosophy the conception of the world, esp in Existentialist thought, as neither designed nor predictable but irrational and meaningless
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See also theatre of the absurd
Derived Formsabsurdity or absurdness, nounabsurdly, adverb

Word Origin

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 absurdness

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper