Absurd
utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false:
an absurd explanation.
the quality or condition of existing in a meaningless and irrational world.
Contemporary Examples
Demanding that Johnson come up with a strategy to repeal Obamacare or else destroy the economy and the country is absurd.
Mark Levin-Ron Johnson Fight Explains the Shutdown Perfectly Pete Dominick October 17, 2013
At Slate, Matthew Yglesias called the gesture simply “absurd.”
Four Reasons Why Obama’s Week Totally Sucked (and One Reason It Didn’t) Melissa Leon April 5, 2013
But even so, this is a big thing, and the discrepancy is absurd.
Montana vs. the Supreme Court Michael Tomasky May 22, 2012
As usual, he was talking about being in one absurd place after another.
Errol Morris’ Sensational ‘Tabloid’ Doc Marlow Stern July 15, 2011
“This shows you how silly and how simple-minded politics can be—just absurd,” Ford says.
Harold Ford’s Perpetual Campaign Lloyd Grove, Samuel P. Jacobs September 12, 2010
Historical Examples
The absurd name “dog” having been given on account of its “bark.”
Wild Animals at Home Ernest Thompson Seton
This thing of marriage being the end of all things was absurd.
K Mary Roberts Rinehart
One might think that she was frightened, but with him—that was absurd.
The Trail of Conflict Emilie Baker Loring
This country is absurd with its sentimental regard for individual liberty.
The Secret Agent Joseph Conrad
Having gone so far into the scheme, it was absurd to let a trifle stop me.
Jane Talbot Charles Brockden Brown
adjective
at variance with reason; manifestly false
ludicrous; ridiculous
noun
(sometimes capital) (philosophy) the absurd, the conception of the world, esp in Existentialist thought, as neither designed nor predictable but irrational and meaningless
adj.
1550s, from Middle French absurde (16c.), from Latin absurdus “out of tune; foolish” (see absurdity). The main modern sense (also present in Latin) is a figurative one, “out of harmony with reason or propriety.” Related: Absurdly; absurdness.
Read Also:
- Absurd, theater of the
absurd, theater of the Plays that stress the illogical or irrational aspects of experience, usually to show the pointlessness of modern life. Samuel Beckett, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Eugene Ionesco, Edward Albee, and Harold Pinter have written plays of this kind.
- Absurdism
the philosophical and literary doctrine that human beings live in essential isolation in a meaningless and irrational world.
- Absurdist
of, relating to, or dealing with absurdism or the . an adherent of absurdism, especially a writer whose work is characterized by absurdist ideas. Contemporary Examples Such strict constitutionalist arguments, Adler said, are based on an absurdist, “gotcha literalism.” The Candidate Named “Pro-Life” Michael Ames October 30, 2010 Country-wide, the lack of utilities, even in […]
- Absurdity
the state or quality of being . something . Contemporary Examples And their faces are hidden behind masks that simultaneously suggest danger and absurdity. Amnesty International’s Pussy Riot Concert: Balaclavas and Punk Rockers Robin Givhan August 12, 2012 After all, many of her answers were pure Daily Show bait, full of ignorance and absurdity. Bachmann: […]
- Absurdly
utterly or obviously senseless, illogical, or untrue; contrary to all reason or common sense; laughably foolish or false: an absurd explanation. the quality or condition of existing in a meaningless and irrational world. Contemporary Examples To establishment Republicans and Democrats, that sounds like an absurdly narrow and implausible vision. Why The Zombie Tea Party Won’t […]