the absurd

noun

1
: a state or condition of extreme silliness or foolishness : an absurd or ridiculous state
Her ideas once seemed reasonable, but now they verge on the absurd.
2
: things that are absurd
a filmmaker who is fascinated with the absurd

Examples of the absurd in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But the absurd has become almost predictable at this point. Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 1 July 2025 But his life takes a turn for the absurd with the arrival of a beautiful Frenchwoman, Valérie, with an imperious chihuahua, just as another guest goes missing. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025 But the series is also touched by the absurd: for starters, the guinea pigs are massive. Kambole Campbell, Variety, 14 June 2025 Ryan observes her subject with a naturalist’s eye and a cartoonist’s sense of the absurd. A.o. Scott, New York Times, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for the absurd

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The absurd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20absurd. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!