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Absurd Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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absurd

ab-surd

🇺🇸 /əbˈsɝd/ · 🇬🇧 /ɐbsˈɜːd/

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

in a ridiculous manner

Contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false.

Synonyms

illogical, preposterous, ridiculous, senseless.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
absurd

Use in situations where something is extremely unreasonable or silly, often in a way that's humorous or funny.

  • It's absurd to think that cats can fly
  • The idea of building a snowman in the desert is completely absurd
ridiculous

Use when something is absurdly funny or silly, often invited mockery or humor.

  • Her suggestion that we swim across the Atlantic Ocean was ridiculous
  • He looked ridiculous wearing that oversized hat
preposterous

Use to describe something that is wildly unreasonable or utterly foolish, often used to emphasize disbelief.

  • The claim that aliens built the pyramids is preposterous
  • It's preposterous to suggest that she can run 100 miles in an hour
illogical

Use when referring to something that doesn't follow logical reasoning or makes no sense from a rational perspective.

  • His argument against climate change is completely illogical
  • It is illogical to expect to lose weight by eating more junk food
senseless

Use when something lacks meaning or purpose, often associated with actions or events that seem irrational.

  • The vandalism of the park was completely senseless
  • It is senseless to argue over such a trivial matter

Examples of usage

  • He made an absurd statement that the earth is flat.
  • It is absurd to think that pigs can fly.
Context #2 | Noun

a situation or thing that is absurd

A situation, thing, or idea that is extremely unreasonable, incongruous, or illogical.

Synonyms

absurdity, nonsense, ridiculousness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
absurd

When describing something that is extremely unreasonable or illogical.

  • The idea that reality TV shows can solve real-life problems is absurd
ridiculousness

To emphasize the extreme foolishness or ludicrousness of a situation or idea, typically used humorously.

  • The ridiculousness of wearing a winter coat in summer made everyone chuckle
absurdity

When focusing on the quality of being absurd, often in a situation or action.

  • The absurdity of the situation made everyone laugh despite the chaos
nonsense

When refuting a statement or idea that lacks sense or meaning, often used in arguments.

  • Her explanation was pure nonsense and did not make any sense

Examples of usage

  • The idea of a dog driving a car is an absurd.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “absurd”

Absurd is a 2-syllable adjective and noun (ab-surd). It is pronounced /əbˈsɝd/ in American English and /ɐbsˈɜːd/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 7 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #5,988 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'absurd'

The word 'absurd' originated from the Latin word 'absurdus', meaning 'out of tune'. It was first used in English in the mid-16th century. The concept of absurdity has been explored in philosophy, literature, and art, often as a way to challenge conventional thinking and question reality.


See also: absurdity, absurdly, absurdness.

Rhymes

Absurd rhymes with burd, one-third, reword, uncured, third, word, heard and referred.

See all rhymes →

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,988 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.