preposterous
[pri-pos-ter-uh s, -truh s]
- completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish: a preposterous tale.
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Origin of preposterous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for preposterous on Thesaurus.comunreasonable, excessive, ridiculous.
Synonym study
See absurd.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for preposterous
Contemporary Examples
I am genuinely curious if any of the preposterous ramifications of what he is saying even occur to Kennedy.
I found the whole idea so preposterous I even Tweeted about it.
By 1994, the league slugging percentage was a preposterous .424, the highest since 1930.
“Trying to patch the current system is preposterous and destined for failure,” said Dr. Damania.
Marchman takes it as a given that MLB basing its case on the say-so of a sketchy Floridian drug-dealer is preposterous.
Historical Examples
How preposterous in him to mention his dead sister's name to her!
Ester Ried Yet SpeakingIsabella Alden
It was to him preposterous, for she was one of that underworld against which he was ruthlessly at war.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
They created the most preposterous romances; and could not get the credit of creating them.
Alarms and DiscursionsG. K. Chesterton
What proof have you, woman, of your preposterous allegation?
All too fearfully I divined their preposterous significance.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
preposterous
- contrary to nature, reason, or sense; absurd; ridiculous
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Word Origin
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
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper