reductio ad absurdum
noun
re·duc·tio ad ab·sur·dum
ri-ˈdək-tē-ˌō-ˌad-əb-ˈsər-dəm 
-ˈdək-sē-ō-,
-shē-,
-ˈzər-
1
: disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion
2
: the carrying of something to an absurd extreme
Examples of reductio ad absurdum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is a wonderful reductio ad absurdum of reinforcement learning.
—
Gil Press, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Reagan, too, was vilified and feared in his day, seen as the reductio ad absurdum of the culture of the image, an automaton projecting his controllers’ authoritarian impulses.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
There’s also the reductio ad absurdum whereby criminals could actively operate in concert with account holders in order to pull off persistent scams knowing full well that some sort of other (meaning banks) will be on the hook.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
The plot’s endless recursions are a reductio ad absurdum of the quest for authorial authenticity, particularly acute in the context of African literature.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Easter Island is to a great extent a reductio ad absurdum of pre-modern man and gifted with a clement regime.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2010
The weakness of reductio ad absurdum arguments is that sometimes the opponent just accepts the absurd argument, too.
—Dominic Pino, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
Ross provides a reductio ad absurdum for a quiet digital-age truth: A sprinkling of coveted intellectual property can allow a shrewd company to punch well above its weight.
—Washington Post, 30 July 2021
Some might see Trader Joe’s as the reductio ad absurdum of this movement’s political demands.
—Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 16 Dec. 2020
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Gil Press, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Reagan, too, was vilified and feared in his day, seen as the reductio ad absurdum of the culture of the image, an automaton projecting his controllers’ authoritarian impulses.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
There’s also the reductio ad absurdum whereby criminals could actively operate in concert with account holders in order to pull off persistent scams knowing full well that some sort of other (meaning banks) will be on the hook.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
The plot’s endless recursions are a reductio ad absurdum of the quest for authorial authenticity, particularly acute in the context of African literature.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Easter Island is to a great extent a reductio ad absurdum of pre-modern man and gifted with a clement regime.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2010
The weakness of reductio ad absurdum arguments is that sometimes the opponent just accepts the absurd argument, too.
—Dominic Pino, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
Ross provides a reductio ad absurdum for a quiet digital-age truth: A sprinkling of coveted intellectual property can allow a shrewd company to punch well above its weight.
—Washington Post, 30 July 2021
Some might see Trader Joe’s as the reductio ad absurdum of this movement’s political demands.
—Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 16 Dec. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Reductio ad absurdum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reductio%20ad%20absurdum. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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