absurd
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
at variance with reason; manifestly false
-
ludicrous; ridiculous
noun
Related Words
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.
There’s also something called Man Cereal, which deserves no further explanation because it really is that absurd.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
However nicely these decisions and deciders are dressed up, the results have been absurd.
From Slate • May 13, 2026
But it appears the summaries were made more widely available, with several users and creators highlighting AI-generated descriptions containing absurd mistakes in late April.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Micron shares have been on an absurd hot streak, galloping 53% higher in April and advancing another 24% so far in May.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
I dared not offer her the half-worn gloves, the creased handkerchief: besides, I felt it would be absurd.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
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.
