1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preposterous
So, who came up with the preposterous idea that Grand and Victoria is blighted?
—
Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
What the Chiefs have been doing has been largely preposterous and unsustainable in the modern NFL, which is entirely designed to prevent dynasties and cultivate parity.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
At the center of her opera-house set, two layers of curtains part, revealing that glorious, preposterous, Clifford-size crinoline and the tiny woman ensconced within it.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
The clock, however, is ticking against the shorts and in favor of the bulls, as preposterous as that seems at this red-hot moment.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preposterous
Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 20 Dec. 2025
What the Chiefs have been doing has been largely preposterous and unsustainable in the modern NFL, which is entirely designed to prevent dynasties and cultivate parity.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Dec. 2025
At the center of her opera-house set, two layers of curtains part, revealing that glorious, preposterous, Clifford-size crinoline and the tiny woman ensconced within it.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025
The clock, however, is ticking against the shorts and in favor of the bulls, as preposterous as that seems at this red-hot moment.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preposterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preposterous
Adjective
-
These politicians who are in their 80s and now 90s continuing to run for office is absurd.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Rates are soaring at absurd levels, but what’s worse is what many homeowners are getting in return — less coverage, fewer payouts and other negative effects.—
Dave Lieber,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Huw just waiting for him without involving the police or having really any plan whatsoever is just as silly.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Wain was joined by stars Ken Marino (who co-wrote the film), Zoey Deutch, John Slattery, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Sabrina Impacciatore, and Ben Wang to reminisce about making their unapologetically silly comedy.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Drinks come in ridiculous glasses—like a copper bathtub complete with a rubber ducky—the music is blasting, and the entire restaurant is there to have a good time.—
Molly Barstein,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Like, who’s being the most ridiculous?—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Why would someone dig such a bizarre underground hideout?—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
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Well, what happened next was pretty bizarre.—
Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The idea of giving that over to a robot seems foolish [and] boring.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Black people cast and produced to look stupid and foolish as standard operating procedure.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For Guardiola to focus on lambasting Hallam was pretty pathetic, all told.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Marche feared that ChatGPT-3 meant the end of freshman composition papers, but that’s a pathetic and moribund genre anyhow.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Getting to play Survivor once is a dream, getting to play twice and on a monumental anniversary season is unreal.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The pressure King felt was unreal.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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What happens, though, when those excesses transcend the merely stupid, the merely unjust, to become existential?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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People who approve of ICE’s actions aren’t necessarily stupid or evil.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preposterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preposterous. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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