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preposterous

[ pri-pos-ter-uhs, -truhs ]
/ prɪˈpɒs tər əs, -trəs /
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adjective

completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish: a preposterous tale.

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RELATED WORDS

insane, unbelievable, excessive, irrational, incredible, unthinkable, fantastic, ludicrous, senseless, unreasonable, crazy, outrageous, stupid, silly, absurd, impossible, laughable, foolish, nonsensical, shocking

Nearby words

  1. prepositive,
  2. prepositor,
  3. prepossess,
  4. prepossessing,
  5. prepossession,
  6. prepostor,
  7. prepotency,
  8. prepotent,
  9. prepotential,
  10. preppie

Origin of preposterous

First recorded in 1535–45, preposterous is from the Latin word praeposterus with the hinder part foremost. See pre-, posterior, -ous
Related forms

Synonym study

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

Examples from the Web for preposterous

British Dictionary definitions for preposterous

preposterous

/ (prɪˈpɒstərəs) /

adjective

contrary to nature, reason, or sense; absurd; ridiculous
Derived Formspreposterously, adverbpreposterousness, noun

Word Origin for preposterous

C16: from Latin praeposterus reversed, from prae in front, before + posterus following
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 preposterous

preposterous

adj.

1540s, from Latin praeposterus "absurd, contrary to nature, inverted, perverted, in reverse order," literally "before-behind" (cf. topsy-turvy, cart before the horse), from prae "before" + posterus "subsequent." Related: Preposterously; preposterousness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper