preposterous

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

See more synonyms for preposterous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

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 formspre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverbpre·pos·ter·ous·ness, nounun·pre·pos·ter·ous, adjectiveun·pre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverbun·pre·pos·ter·ous·ness, noun

Synonyms for preposterous

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unreasonable, excessive, ridiculous.

Synonym study

See absurd.

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

Related Words for preposterous

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

Examples from the Web for preposterous

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
“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
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

Historical Examples of preposterous

How preposterous in him to mention his dead sister's name to her!
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
It was to him preposterous, for she was one of that underworld against which he was ruthlessly at war.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
They created the most preposterous romances; and could not get the credit of creating them.
Alarms and Discursions
G. K. Chesterton
What proof have you, woman, of your preposterous allegation?
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98 February 15, 1890
Various
All too fearfully I divined their preposterous significance.
Ruggles of Red Gap
Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for preposterous

preposterous

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

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.