1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a preposterous suggestion to go swimming in this freezing weather
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3
as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
the movie thriller had such a preposterous plot that we were on the edge of our seats snickering
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preposterous
This is still a preposterous way to govern, as there are currently over 40 national emergencies in effect.
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The Editors, National Review, 2 Feb. 2025
These two are preposterous, dangerous choices for their respective positions, and senators should do well to remember that this isn’t a game or a campaign ad.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2025
The concept of flying out to distant asteroids and mining them for precious metals is going to seem preposterous right up until the moment that someone actually does it.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
Both films are about the preposterous beauty standards foisted upon women in our modern culture, yet both films seem determined to make these same women suffer, while portraying men as mostly bumbling buffoons whose chief infractions are wandering eyes.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preposterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preposterous
Adjective
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To even suggest that my clients were somehow resistant to other points of view, acted secretly and/or abusively or threatened anyone’s job is patently false and frankly absurd.—
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That would be absurd!’ Athwart Gravy Train Wreck James Lileks In the resistance world, Musk and Trump have fused into one dark bolus of evil, a grinning fleshy blob that throbs with malevolence: Muskentrump.—
Adjective
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My long-distance boyfriend often addressed letters with silly names or in-jokes.—
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Altuve, Espada and everyone in between are stressing the fluidity of a situation that once seemed silly but is transforming into one of baseball’s most fascinating storylines.—
Adjective
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Many of the memes are ridiculous, poking fun at the Trump administration’s obvious ploy to pin the blame of any situation on DEI programs.—
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The 30-year-old center is averaging a rather ridiculous line of 29.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists on the season, while hitting almost 58% of his shots.—
Adjective
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The pilot episode of The Baldwins, TLC’s new reality show about actor Alec Baldwin and his family, is one of the darkest and most bizarre hours of television to appear in recent memory.—
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The expo’s Instagram page documents visits to other cities and showcases many of the bizarre and dark art pieces and items people can buy, as well as some attendees’ costumes.—
Adjective
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Miami would be foolish to hold onto him as the team still looks to be multiple years away from contending for a postseason berth.—
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Currently 44-10 | On pace for 67-15 Underestimating the Cavs has proven to be a foolish practice this season.—
Adjective
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In a bravura theatrical performance, Hawke makes the genius truly pathetic.—
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Blonsky imbues the lead character of Tracy Turnblad, who could be a pathetic figure in lesser hands, with enough vitality to make the whole film feel fresh, even close to two decades after its release.—
Adjective
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It’s got an immersive screen that makes games look unreal, and the OLED panel blows everything else out of the water with its colors and contrast.—
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Rather than the typical market outlook, fraught with all the dangers of being a soothsayer, this outlook will endeavor to take a journey like Lewis Carroll’s Alice to find some reality in markets that can sometimes seem unreal or irrational.—
Adjective
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Some of the replies were the usual stupid snark on social media from people who thrive on being negative.—
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The premise itself is both deeply stupid and incredibly clever (the sweet spot, really).—
Cite this Entry
“Preposterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preposterous. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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