preposterous

[ pri-pos-ter-uhs, -truhs ]

/ prɪˈpɒs tər əs, -trəs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR preposterous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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

Nearby words

prepositive, prepositor, prepossess, prepossessing, prepossession, preposterous, prepostor, prepotency, prepotent, prepotential, preppy

Origin of preposterous

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

SYNONYMS FOR preposterous

unreasonable, excessive, ridiculous.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR preposterous ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

pre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverbpre·pos·ter·ous·ness, nounun·pre·pos·ter·ous, adjectiveun·pre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverb

un·pre·pos·ter·ous·ness, noun

Synonym study

See absurd.

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

Examples from the Web for preposterous

I am genuinely curious if any of the preposterous ramifications of what he is saying even occur to Kennedy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Twisted Anti-Vaxx History|Russell Saunders|July 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I found the whole idea so preposterous I even Tweeted about it.
Celiac or Not, Gluten Free Dish Soap Is Ridiculous|Russell Saunders|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By 1994, the league slugging percentage was a preposterous .424, the highest since 1930.
Are Athletes Using Your Tax Dollars to Juice?|Stuart Stevens|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Trying to patch the current system is preposterous and destined for failure,” said Dr. Damania.
The Health-Care System Is So Broken, It’s Time for Doctors to Strike|Daniela Drake|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Marchman takes it as a given that MLB basing its case on the say-so of a sketchy Floridian drug-dealer is preposterous.
Major League Baseball Is Right to Punish the Biogenesis Cheats|Michael Brendan Dougherty|June 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
George Morton never could be certain when he first conceived the preposterous idea that Sylvia Planter ought to belong to him.
The Guarded Heights|Wadsworth Camp
"Certainly she has the most delicious head I ever saw," was Lady Ingleton's first (preposterous) thought.
In the Wilderness|Robert Hichens
He began to get the run of the conversation, but as he made it out, it was too preposterous to consider.
Shelled by an Unseen Foe|James Fiske
The proposition is preposterous and I will not insult your intelligence by arguing it any further.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 10 (of 12)|Robert G. Ingersoll
The mere mention of the thing was to her so preposterous—no, loathsome, she kept repeating.
The Quest of the Silver Fleece|W. E. B. Du Bois

British Dictionary definitions for preposterous

preposterous

/ (prɪˈpɒstərəs) /

adjective

contrary to nature, reason, or sense; absurd; ridiculous

Derived Forms

preposterously, 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