preposterous

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

See synonyms for preposterous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

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 for preposterous

unreasonable, excessive, ridiculous

See synonyms for preposterous on Thesaurus.com

Other words from preposterous

pre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverb
pre·pos·ter·ous·ness, noun
un·pre·pos·ter·ous, adjective
un·pre·pos·ter·ous·ly, adverb
un·pre·pos·ter·ous·ness, noun

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

How to use preposterous in a sentence

Now in the NFC, Brady has added a preposterous 14th title game appearance to his résumé.
Aaron Rodgers, entering a showdown with Tom Brady, has gone from chippy to chill | Jerry Brewer | January 22, 2021 | Washington Post
The idea of TV advertising has long been considered preposterous for B2B marketing.
CTV and B2B: 3 reasons why Connected TV advertising is primed for B2B | Sponsored Content: SteelHouse | October 12, 2020 | Search Engine Land
Does this mean that we've preposterously ceded the ability to shape our perceptions to small groups of crazy people?
Boston Marathon Attacks Will Now Define Terrorism For Americans | Hussein Ibish | April 16, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
But that, however preposterously, is their perception and reputation.
Ryan and the Built-in Lies of the Cliché Machine | Michael Tomasky | August 13, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Austen was a mathematician of social interaction, and her novels are impossibly, preposterously good.
Pulitzer Winner Jennifer Egan’s PEN Festival Book Bag | Jennifer Egan | April 23, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST

Acceptance rates at top schools have fallen to preposterously low levels.
The Great College Road Trip | Nick Summers | April 8, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
The cardboard is preposterously thick—thicker than the wedding invitation of a Saudi sheik.
What Makes Apple So Erotic | Adam Hanft | January 17, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
The head itself was preposterously small and was supported on an equally preposterous, thick, short neck.
Before Adam | Jack London
This resolution was made in deference to the opinion of others, and to the public feeling, which was so preposterously excited.
The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson | Robert Southey
Wetherbee stared into the shaven, haunted face thus preposterously thrust at him across the years.
Where the Pavement Ends | John Russell
But it was a preposterously difficult task to get across an undercut to where he could grasp a stunted tree.
The Invaders | William Fitzgerald Jenkins
Strangely, her glances seemed to have become preposterously mixed.
The Wolf Cub | Patrick Casey

British Dictionary definitions for preposterous

preposterous

/ (prɪˈpɒstərəs) /

adjective

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

Origin of preposterous

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

Derived forms of preposterous

preposterously, adverb
preposterousness, noun

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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