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Meaning & use

absurd

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/əbˈsɜːd/
US/əbˈsɜːrd/

Meaning

  1. adjectivecomparable

    So unreasonable or illogical that it seems ridiculous or laughable.

    Grammar: Takes more/most; often appears after be, seem, look, or sound and before nouns.

    Patterns

    • It is absurd to do something.
    • absurd that something
    • look/sound absurd

    It is absurd to blame the weather for every missed deadline.

    The rule sounded absurd until the safety reason was explained.

    She wore an absurd hat to the meeting and made everyone laugh.

Word forms

comparativemore absurd
superlativemost absurd

Common combinations

utterly absurd
Demanding silence in a fire drill is utterly absurd.
patently absurd
The claim that the cat filed the taxes was patently absurd.
absurd situation
We found ourselves in the absurd situation of applauding an empty stage.
absurd amount of money
They paid an absurd amount of money for a tiny cup of coffee.
absurd claim
The article rejects the absurd claim that sleep is a waste of time.

Synonyms and how they differ

ridiculous
Very close, but often stronger and more openly mocking than absurd.
silly
Lighter and less serious; absurd can describe exasperating illogic, not just playful foolishness.
preposterous
Emphasizes something outrageously contrary to reason; absurd can be mildly comic or deeply illogical.
irrational
Means not based on reason; absurd adds the sense that the result is laughable.

Opposites

reasonablesensiblelogical

Word family

absurdity noun
A ridiculous quality or an absurd thing.
absurdly adverb
In an absurd way; also means unreasonably, as in absurdly cheap.
absurdism noun
The view or artistic style that presents existence as illogical or meaningless.

Commonly confused: absurd or absurdist? absurd or obtuse?

absurd vs absurdist

Absurdist describes a person or work connected with absurdism; absurd is the broader adjective for ridiculous illogic.

absurd vs obtuse

Obtuse means annoyingly slow to understand a person; absurd describes an idea or situation, not comprehension.

Practice

Choose the best completion: “The excuse ___ so ___ that the teacher laughed before getting angry.”

Make it your own

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