ABSURD Synonyms: 198 Similar and Opposite Words

absurd

adjective

əb-ˈsərd

Definition of absurd

as in bizarre

conceived or made without regard for reason or reality absurd claims of having been abducted by UFO's

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in silly

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment an absurd rule that bicycles are not allowed in the park

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ridiculous

so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter it's absurd to expect to make a killing in the stock market overnight

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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 absurd The humor—dry, humane, occasionally absurd—is ever-present … The Vermont setting, spare and bracing, acts as a quiet amplifier of these idiosyncrasies, while Mason remains attuned to the natural world. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026 Space startup activity has been growing for years, with new companies hitting unicorn valuations at a pace that would have seemed absurd five years ago. — Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026 The role of a maternal, culinarily inclined woman whose put-together image comes under very public strain fits Garner like a glove, which helps in selling slightly absurd details like Hollis’ traumatic fixation on smoke alarms. — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 July 2026 That the Fendons don’t think to immediately tell their devastated adult son, Harry (Craig Roberts), that his dad is still alive is only the first delightfully absurd wrinkle in this mischievous black comedy. — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for absurd

Recent Examples of Synonyms for absurd

Adjective

But at the end of this bizarre game in Miami, this silly 6-4 thriller, this giddy attacking exhibition of some of the world’s best players, and some of the world’s worst defending, England were on the winning side.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Southwest’s bizarre seat assignments and enforcement policies may have had operational roots, but customers assumed the worst.

— Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of bizarre

Adjective

She’s seen during a dance rehearsal, a silly social media clip, and onstage from their Lollapalooza set, the latter of which came before her announcement in February to step away from Katseye.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
Starring British comedy favourites such as Kevin Eldon and Miranda Hart, Hyperdrive is a very silly show that ended up more like a workplace sitcom in space rather than the next Red Dwarf.

— William Worrall, Space.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of silly

Adjective

Johnson continued this week to push for his foolish and counterproductive desire to impose a $33-per-month tax on each Chicago job generated by the city’s largest private-sector employers.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
As is, this is a foolish thriller that prompts the occasional snicker but not much more.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Definition of foolish

Adjective

There are plenty of videos from Yellowstone National Park involving tourists doing breathtakingly stupid things around wild animals.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026
Even when Romanzy goes off on how stupid and ugly Caleb is — and gossips that his parents abandoned him because something must be wrong with him — Mary goes along with it.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026

Definition of stupid

Adjective

Never in my lifetime has pathetic nostalgia for the white man’s republic been closer to the center of power.

— Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.

— Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Definition of pathetic

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.

— Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
The air is fresh and clean, the pace is calm, and the views are unreal.

— Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026