Absurd

Full Definition of ABSURD

1

: ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous <an absurd argument>

2

: having no rational or orderly relationship to human life : meaningless <an absurd universe>; also : lacking order or value <an absurd existence>

3

: dealing with the absurd (see ²absurd) or with absurdism <absurd theater>

— ab·surd·ly adverb

— ab·surd·ness noun

See absurd defined for English-language learners

See absurd defined for kids

Examples of ABSURD

In an era when federal judges issue rulings that in their impact often rival the lawmaking of any legislature in the land, it is increasingly absurd that their proceedings should remain off-limits to the same wider public scrutiny that news cameras have brought to courts in 48 states. —Editor & Publisher, 14 July 2003
By the time Showalter was fired one day after the end of last season, the stories of how he carried his attention to detail to absurd lengths—including his insistence that the A on the players' socks be completely visible—had been well circulated. —Phil Taylor, Sports Illustrated, 30 July 2001
This criticism, patently absurd to anyone who has read even a handful of Updike's more than 40 books, nevertheless has been made so often that it is worth Pritchard's long rebuttal. —Jonathan Wilson, New York Times Book Review, 24 Sept. 2000
Yet from time to time, virtually every parent falls back on threats, often absurd ones that leave Mom and Dad feeling foolish and the problem unresolved. —Dorothy Foltz-Gray, Parenting, December/January 1996
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Origin of ABSURD

Middle French absurde, from Latin absurdus, from ab- + surdus deaf, stupid

First Known Use: 1557

Related to ABSURD

Synonyms: fantastic, bizarre, crazy, fanciful, foolish, insane, nonsensical, preposterous, unreal, wild

Antonyms: realistic, reasonable

Rhymes with ABSURD

bean curd, begird, bellbird, blackbird, bluebird, boobird, buzzword, byword, catbird, catchword, cowbird, cowherd, crossword, cussword, engird, game bird, ghost word, goatherd, good word, guide word, headword, jailbird, jaybird, key word, kingbird, last word, loanword, lovebird, lyrebird, my word, oilbird, password, potsherd, railbird, rainbird, redbird, reword, ricebird, seabird, Sigurd, shorebird, snakebird, snowbird, songbird, state bird, sunbird, surfbird, swearword, swineherd, textured, ungird, unheard, watchword, yardbird

Definition of ABSURD

: the state or condition in which human beings exist in an irrational and meaningless universe and in which human life has no ultimate meaning —usually used with the

Origin of ABSURD

(see ¹absurd

First Known Use: 1946

Definition of ABSURD for Kids

: completely foolish, unreasonable, or untrue : ridiculous <His claims are absurd.>

— ab·surd·ly adverb

Synonym Discussion of ABSURD

absurd, foolish, and silly mean not showing good sense. absurd is used when something is not in keeping with common sense, good reasoning, or accepted ideas. <The notion that horses can talk is absurd.> foolish is used when something is not thought of by others as wise or sensible. <You would be foolish to invest your money in that.> silly is used when something makes no sense and has no purpose. <They had a silly argument over who ate the most.>