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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; utterly foolish; absurd; senseless: a preposterous tale.
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Origin of preposterous

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin praeposterus “inverted, reversed, perverted, perverse,” literally, “with the rear part first”; see also pre-, posterior, -ous

synonym study for preposterous

See absurd.

OTHER WORDS FROM preposterous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use preposterous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preposterous

preposterous
/ (prɪˈpɒstərəs) /

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

Derived forms of preposterous

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
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