(n) a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless; --Albert Camus, Syn. the absurd, Example:The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth

absurd

(adj) inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense; - Walter Lippman, Example:the absurd predicament of seeming to argue that virtue is highly desirable but intensely unpleasant

absurd

(adj) incongruous;inviting ridicule, Syn. laughable, ludicrous, preposterous, cockeyed, derisory, ridiculous, idiotic, nonsensical, Example:the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework; that's a cockeyed idea; ask a nonsensical question and get a nonsensical answer; a contribution so small as to be laughable; it is ludicrous to call a cottage a mansion; a preposterous attempt to turn back the pages of history; her conceited assumption of universal interest in her rather dull children was ridiculous

absurdity

(n) a message whose content is at variance with reason, Syn. absurdness, ridiculousness

absurdity

(n) a ludicrous folly, Syn. silliness, fatuity, fatuousness, Example:the crowd laughed at the absurdity of the clown's behavior

absurdly

(adv) in an absurd manner or to an absurd degree, Example:an absurdly rich young woman

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)

Absurd

a. [ L. absurdus harsh-sounding; ab + (prob) a derivative fr. a root svar to sound; not connected with surd: cf. F. absurde. See Syringe. ] Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream. [ 1913 Webster ]

This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

'This phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope. p. 9 [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Foolish; irrational; ridiculous; preposterous; inconsistent; incongruous. -- Absurd, Irrational, Foolish, Preposterous. Of these terms, irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational course of life. Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, foolish enterprises. Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. Preposterous rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a “putting of the cart before the horse;” as, a preposterous suggestion, preposterous conduct, a preposterous regulation or law. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absurd

n. An absurdity. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absurdity

n.; pl. Absurdities [ L. absurditas: cf. F. absurdite. ] 1. The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. “The absurdity of the actual idea of an infinite number.” Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction. [ 1913 Webster ]

His travels were full of absurdities. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absurdly

adv. In an absurd manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absurdness

n. Absurdity. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

German-English: TU-Chemnitz DING Dictionary DING DE-EN Dictionary

Absurdität { f }; Unding { n } | Absurditäten { pl }

absurdity | absurdities

absurd; widersinnig; skurril { adj } | absurder | am absurdesten

absurd | more absurd | most absurd

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