1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preposterous
Which are totally preposterous.
—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The series is wildly atmospheric with plenty of gallows humor and more than a few truly loopy plotlines, but great fun with Davis managing, as ever, to sell even the most preposterous scene.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
The statement was greeted by the event moderator and the other laureates as preposterous enough to make the simulation hypothesis seem reasonable by comparison.
—
Quanta Magazine,
8 June 2026
Add that to this team’s seemingly endless list of the preposterous.
—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for preposterous
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
The series is wildly atmospheric with plenty of gallows humor and more than a few truly loopy plotlines, but great fun with Davis managing, as ever, to sell even the most preposterous scene.
—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
The statement was greeted by the event moderator and the other laureates as preposterous enough to make the simulation hypothesis seem reasonable by comparison.
—
Quanta Magazine,
8 June 2026
Add that to this team’s seemingly endless list of the preposterous.
—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for preposterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preposterous
Adjective
-
The 41-year-old is still an elite NBA player, which is still an absurd reality to consider.
-
The thesis rests on a claim that would have sounded absurd a year ago.
Adjective
-
Every player with a pulse had six suitors throwing silly money around.
-
Some scenes in the movie are light and silly, including those pairing Maddie with a lesbian friend, played by Kate Berlant, who clearly loves her.
Adjective
-
Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.
-
This laptop can absolutely handle a ridiculous number of tabs.
Adjective
-
When Aaron Paul’s Jeff attempts to make a suspicious deposit, the bank teller (a game Nina Dobrev) demands to be in on the deal, in the sort of neo-noir twist that could suggest a rich film world populated with bizarre freaks of all stripes.
-
In the canon of DC Comics, Comet is truly a bizarre character.
Adjective
-
Further, Plato’s disdain for Gorgias, Antisthenes’ first teacher, and sophistry in general is clear; in the Platonic dialogue Gorgias, the titular character is made out to be rather foolish.
-
One is villianized and one is made to look foolish.
Adjective
-
Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
-
After these first three majors — and after a pathetic showing this week at Shinnecock — there's no reason to bet against it.
Adjective
-
These digital technologies have also created an echo chamber of self-confirming views, which has contributed to an unreal, simplified view of a nuanced, messy world.
-
The air is fresh and clean, the pace is calm, and the views are unreal.
Adjective
-
And no, that was NOT OutKick or FOX who wrote that stupid headline.
-
The thing about House of the Dragon is that everything really is quite stupid.
Cite this Entry
“Preposterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preposterous. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
